SC utilities say energy use down, despite the heat
SOUTH CAROLINA - South Carolinians are cutting their energy use this summer, despite the heat.
The State reported the four major utilities serving South Carolina say energy use is either flat or down a bit, compared to last summer.
South Carolina Electric & Gas says residential use is down about 2 percent. Spokesman Robert Yanity says the economy is affecting the utility's 650,000 customers in the Midlands and Lowcountry.
State-owned utility Santee Cooper says peak use has been down 10 percent this year, compared to the hottest days last year.
Duke Energy's Paige Sheehan says the Charlotte utility expects sales to be flat. Duke has 600,000 customers in the Upstate.
Progress Energy says residential sales are growing, but industrial sales have dropped. Progress has about 200,000 customers in the Pee Dee.
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BC Hydro Expects To See Electricity Usage Rise This Holiday Season
VANCOUVER - BC Hydro data showed residential electricity load in the Cariboo and throughout the province dropped on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in 2020.
Northern Community Relations Manager, Bob Gammer, said the decrease was due in part to more people following the COVID-19 restrictions and did not get together for big meals.
However, this year Gammer said between 4 and 10 pm on those two days, BC Hydro does expect to see a change in overall usage.
“On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we expect to see increases through those hours and a little bit more so between 4 and 10 pm…