The Department of Public Utilities, City of Orangeburg is one of the largest municipal electric utility in the state of South Carolina. DPU owns and operates 22 electric substations, with service available at 115KV; 46KV; 25KV; 8.3KV; and 480V for large customers.

A modern dispatch center monitors and controls the electric system 24 hours per day through a state of the art fiber optic network. Serving a geographic area of approximately 340 square miles, DPU offers a multi-utility approach. 

Why are electricity prices changing?

We are experiencing a period of significant change in the industry. With the costs of fuel changing frequently, a renewed economy, and an unusually unpredictable climate, many utilities like DPU have variances in their electricity rates. This is due to a number of factors.

Cost of Fuels

The cost of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) used to generate electricity can vary significantly. As these costs change, they directly impact the cost of electricity that we send to your home or business.

Demand is Changing

Our country’s demand for electricity is at an all-time high. Population growth and greater use of computers, electronic products, and home entertainment items will contribute to rising demand in the coming years. To deal with forecasted demand increases, many utilities are finding it necessary to increase investment in transmission and generating facilities to bring the power to customers.

What DPU is doing?

DPU is working diligently to keep prices down and help our customers save on their electricity bills. We are also working closely with our national trade association, the American Public Power Association, to ensure policies that put customers first and ensure a stable supply of electricity while protecting the environment. Since DPU is part of two-thirds of public power systems that do not generate their own electricity, and instead buy it on the wholesale market for distribution to their customers, securing competitively priced and reliable wholesale power is our priority. We ask for your continued support as we try to keep prices as low as possible while providing reliable power to everyone.

What you can do to help lower your bills?

You can help keep your bills as low as possible by conserving electricity and making your home more efficient. Some easy ways to save money include turning lights, appliances, and electronics off when not in use, replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED, installing a programmable thermostat and weatherizing your home with weather-stripping and caulking. More tips are available at the American Public Power Association’s Web site at www.EERCnet.org.

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