Piedmont Natural Gas announced on Apr. 1 that it has filed a request with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to adjust its billing rates through a general rate case proceeding.
The proposed change is significant for customers, as it would allow Piedmont to recover recent capital investments and address increased costs since its last rate case in 2022. If approved, the new rates are expected to take effect on Oct. 1, 2026, resulting in an average increase of $7.67 per month—or about $92 annually—for typical residential customers in South Carolina.
Piedmont’s filing also includes a request for concurrent reductions in pass-through natural gas costs, which could help offset some of the overall bill increases. The company is seeking an overall revenue increase of 6.3 percent and serves approximately 170,000 customers across Anderson, Spartanburg, Greenville and Cherokee counties.
Emily Henson, president of Piedmont Natural Gas, said: “Piedmont works to keep costs as low as possible while safely and reliably serving our customers. Raising rates is a decision we never make lightly, and we know any increase may be challenging to some customers.” Henson added: “Piedmont remains focused on helping our customers manage their bills and energy usage. We offer a variety of options, including our Equal Payment Plan program, payment assistance programs, and energy-saving tips and tools.”
The company highlighted several support programs for those who may need assistance managing higher bills. These include the Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program that allows predictable monthly payments based on annual usage; Share the Warmth funding distributed through local agencies; and participation in the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). More information about these programs can be found at piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms.
Looking ahead, Piedmont says it will continue providing resources such as energy-saving tips and tools designed to help households understand their bills better and find ways to reduce consumption throughout the year.
