The South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) announced that customer hearings related to Duke Energy Carolinas’ pending electric rate case, Docket 2025-172-E, are set for Nov. 13. The hearings will be held in-person in Columbia and the Upstate and will also offer virtual participation, enabling consumers across the state to follow proceedings and provide input using a toll-free line at designated times.

The proceedings involve the PSC, which regulates investor-owned utilities in the state, and Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC), the utility seeking adjustments to its rates and charges under the active docket. While the hearings are convened in two physical locations, the PSC’s provision of toll-free listening access ensures that customers who cannot travel to hearing sites—including many in rural counties such as Allendale—can make their perspectives known to the commissioners overseeing the case.

For Allendale County residents, the case matters in both direct and indirect ways. Those who receive electric service directly from DEC within South Carolina’s service footprint could see changes in monthly bills, service-related policies, or program eligibility depending on the PSC’s eventual ruling. Even customers served by other utilities should pay attention: commission decisions in a major statewide rate case can set legal and regulatory precedents that influence future filings and regulatory treatments across the state.

Customer hearings are a formal part of the regulatory process that allows members of the public to speak about how proposed utility actions affect households, small businesses, farms, schools, and municipal services. In many communities, energy costs and reliability weigh heavily on household budgets and on the operating costs of local institutions. Public comment at hearings gives residents a direct channel to raise affordability concerns, describe local service experiences, or highlight special circumstances in rural counties like Allendale.

The PSC’s scheduling of both in-person and virtual access reflects efforts to broaden participation in a proceeding with statewide implications. Residents wishing to participate should note the date of Nov. 13 and monitor the PSC and local county communications for the precise toll-free line number, session times, and any registration requirements for public comment periods. Local officials and community organizations may also provide guidance on how to prepare remarks or submit concerns in writing to the commission.

As the case moves forward under Docket 2025-172-E, the PSC’s final decision will shape how utility costs are allocated and paid across South Carolina. For Allendale County, keeping informed and participating in designated comment sessions offers one of the most direct ways for residents to influence a process that could affect household expenses and the economic environment of the community.