South Carolina’s electricity market remains a regulated monopoly. Utilities operate within fixed territories, leaving customers with no choice of provider, while the state government sets the rates. Palmetto Promise Institute has long advocated for Limited Retail Choice (LRC). This proven reform allows customers to purchase electricity from alternative suppliers rather than being locked into service

As we all know, energy demand is a pressing issue for South Carolina. According to EIA data, South Carolina energy rates went up more than 9% last year and show no sign of slowing down. That being said, South Carolina has historically boasted energy rates below the national average, a trait that makes it very attractive to both manufacturers and residents. Recently, PPI laid out a case for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a primary solution to this

Welcome to the Innovation Age! It’s scary and exciting. Technology is advancing so rapidly it’s difficult to grasp the implications. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the data centers that support it are garnering the same sort of resistance the “horseless carriage” received when it first appeared on American roads in the late 19th century. The reaction

When you use an AI chatbot, watch an online video, back up a photo, or even send a text message, it is usually a data center that handles it behind the scenes. Even though most of us never see them, these campuses silently support our everyday lives.   Knowing what a data center is and what sets them apart from other facilities will help us understand why they are becoming increasingly important.  What Is a Data Center?  Data centers are

  On July 31, 2017, construction was halted on the V.C. Summer Units II and III nuclear expansion project in Fairfield County. One of the entities responsible for the project’s failure was South Carolina’s state-owned utility, Santee Cooper. After the debacle, Santee Cooper and its V.C. Summer co-owner, SCE&G (now subsumed by Dominion Energy) assumed billions in debt from the failure of the project. SCE&G turned to ratepayers and to Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) Dominion to

Energy demand in South Carolina is rising. Both families and prospective businesses are poised to draw more from South Carolina’s power infrastructure. The estimated air conditioning costs this summer are already projected to be roughly $100 higher than last year, especially concerning given that South Carolina consistently ranks among the states with the highest household

Harsher-than-normal winter weather has stressed South Carolina’s energy grid in recent years. while summer usage has earned the Palmetto State the dubious honor of the highest average residential electricity bills in the country (2016). Now, come data centers, which are huge energy consumers. What is the answer? Should we turn to monopoly utilities to save

On Wednesday of this week, Governor Henry McMaster gave his final State of the State Address before a joint assembly of the Senate and House of Representatives.  His speech was full of rich South Carolina history, policy priorities, and—most importantly—hope.  He outlined a pathway for freedom and prosperity that is well within our grasp; a

What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on

This op-ed by Dr. Oran Smith and Michael Wright was published in the Post and Courier. From families to industries, everyone wants a piece of what the Palmetto State has to offer. As South Carolina continues to grow, we must identify sustainable energy solutions to mitigate an increasingly strained electricity supply while keeping rates affordable,