Get assistance from South Carolina Electric and Gas

People who are struggling with their utility bills can get assistance. Officials associated with South Carolina Electric & Gas have created a number of assistance programs that can be used to help customers pay their utility bills. Customers who need more information or who want to apply should call an SCE&G customer service representative at 800-251-7234. South Carolina Electric and Gas offers its customers the following programs.

Deferred Payment Plan: This assistance plan will allow a customer to defer a portion of the utility bill. It will then be billed in equal installments on subsequent monthly bills. The Deferred Payment Plan typically involves a down payment (earnest payment) that needs to be made by the customer, which will then also help reduce the amount to be deferred. This can also help prevent a disconnection.

Project Share: SCE&G employees, customers, and local businesses contribute to Project Share. The program will provide assistance to low and moderate income customers for utility bills. Since the program began in the mid 1980s, more than 40,000 customers have been assisted in towns and communities served by SCE&G. The South Carolina Governor's Office's Division of Economic Opportunity, in partnering with local community action agencies, administers and distributes all money donated to Project Share. Because there are no administrative costs, 100 percent of donations go to help those in need and it can pay a customers entire utility bill. Read more.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: While it is funded by the federal government, South Carolina administers the funds. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps people with paying their heating as well as summer air conditioning bills. The amount of assistance provided to an applicant depends on the heating fuel used and the applicant's total household income. Since the program began in over 30 years ago, 1980, almost $65 million in cash grants and assistance has gone to nearly 500,000 SCE&G customers. Contact your local Community action agencies, which administers all LIHEAP funds, to apply or learn more.

Budget Billing: All customers can sign up for the Budget Billing program. This will allow them to project their future costs and there budget more accurately for monthly energy bills. When customers sign up for the Budget Billing program, the customers monthly energy usage and bills will be estimated based on historical data from the previous 12 months at the residence (if available), and the total amount of the bill will be divided into 12 equal payments. Customers will then need to pay this amount in equal monthly installments. At the end of the year, the amount will then be in effect “trued-up” on an annual basis to reflect actual usage and costs. It is important to note that with Budget Billing, customers will not pay less on their utility bills, but they always know what the payment will be for the entire year.

Fixed Income Plan: This also provides customers more flexibility. It will allow customers to choose the date their utility bill is due. This plan is for people who lived on fixed income, such as Social Security, civil service retirements or pensions, or others who receive a check that comes on a fixed day of the month. You can coordinate when you get billed with their energy company.

Medical Certificate Plan: This will prevent certain people from having their service turned off. During the colder winter months of December through March, SCE&G will not disconnect a residential customer for a 30-day period. However, South Carolina Electric and Gas will need to be furnished with a medical certificate signed by your doctor or some other type of licensed physician. If the disconnection of your service would be dangerous to the customer or a member of their household, customers should obtain the Medical Certificate form from a local SCE&G office. Or you can call and have one mailed out to you. If you have completed the certificate and if it is signed by a licensed physician, you just need to return the form to us prior to disconnection of your utility service.