Manufacturing costs in Charleston–North Charleston, SC
Charleston–North Charleston, SC ranks 57 of 100 U.S. metros by estimated manufacturing energy use. Industrial power in South Carolina costs 7.88 ¢/kWh, +9.3% from a year earlier, and consumer prices in the South, size B/C index are +3.7% from a year earlier.
- Rank by manufacturing energy use
- 57 of 100
- Estimated manufacturing energy use
- 30.3 trillion Btu a year
- Electricity
- 2,600 GWh a year (estimate)
- Natural gas
- 21.4 million Dth a year (estimate)
- Manufacturing jobs, 2024
- 34,312
- Estimate confidence
- Medium
- South Carolina industrial power, Aug 2026
- 7.88 ¢/kWh (+9.3% from a year earlier)
- South Carolina citygate gas, Mar to Aug 2026
- $6.14 per Mcf (6 months reported)
- Inflation, South, size B/C, Sep 2026
- +3.7% from a year earlier; +9.0% over three years
Inflation in South, size B/C
- South, size B/C
- U.S. city average
Industrial electricity in South Carolina
- South Carolina industrial
Other South Carolina metros in the index
- Greenville–Anderson–Greer, SC, rank 40
- Columbia, SC, rank 53
- Spartanburg, SC, rank 88
National cost drivers
WTI crude +67.6%, Henry Hub gas −6.3%, chemical producer prices +6.6% and industrial electricity producer prices +4.1% from a year earlier. See the full index.
Questions
Questions about Charleston–North Charleston.
What the index measures, where the numbers come from, and how Discovery Energy checks energy bills against them.
How much energy do manufacturers use in Charleston–North Charleston?
Discovery Energy estimates that manufacturers in the Charleston–North Charleston, SC metro use about 30.3 trillion Btu of electricity and natural gas a year, rank 57 of the 100 largest U.S. manufacturing energy metros.
What do manufacturers pay for electricity in Charleston–North Charleston?
The average industrial electricity price in South Carolina was 7.88 cents per kWh in Aug 2026, +9.3% from a year earlier, according to EIA. Actual rates depend on the utility, tariff and load profile.
How fast are prices rising in Charleston–North Charleston?
Consumer prices in the South, size B/C index rose +3.7% over the latest twelve months reported by BLS. Nationally, crude oil is +68% and chemical producer prices +6.6% from a year earlier.
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