Utility Demand Side Management (DSM) Activities

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires major electric utilities to submit an Electric Utility Annual Report (Form 1) that consists of comprehensive financial and operating information. The Form 1 PDFs for investor owned utilities can be found below.

Utility Demand Side Management (DSM) Activities

The Energy Office publishes annual reports on the demand-side management (DSM) activities conducted by electric and natural gas utilities. Utility DSM programs typically offer financial incentives (such as reduced rates or bill credits) for customers to voluntarily conserve energy or to shift their energy use to off-peak periods. DSM can also consist of non-monetary assistance, such as energy assessments or public information activities. DSM is the modification of consumer demand for energy through various methods such as financial incentives and education. Usually, the goal of demand-side management is to encourage the consumer to use less energy during peak hours, or to move the time of energy use to off-peak times such as nighttime and weekends. Peak demand management does not necessarily decrease total energy consumption, but it could be expected to reduce the need for investments in networks and/or power plants.

Implementation of State Government Energy Conservation

The South Carolina State Government Energy Conservation Act (§48-52-610 through 680 and §48-52-910, Code of Laws of South Carolina) requires public entities to report activities undertaken to implement their Energy Conservation Plan. A crucial step in any attempt to manage energy use and minimize energy cost is to obtain accurate measures of past and present energy use and expenditures. Once the data is collected, energy management plans and goals can be developed. Research has shown measuring and reporting energy consumption and costs increases conservation awareness and leads to performance improvements with little to no cost. The following reports detail state agency energy use compiled from information submitted to the Energy Office. For information regarding a specific state agency, please contact Michael Garner at 803-737-2090.

Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes Incentive Program 

South Carolina has two incentive programs to encourage the purchase of more energy efficient manufactured homes. Begun in 2009, the first program eliminates the sales tax from Energy Star manufactured homes and also provides a $750 state income tax credit to qualified homebuyers. 

Carolinas Energy: Planning for the Future

In December 2014, the Energy Office - in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Advanced Energy, and UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) - received a State Energy Program Competitive Award from the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to develop a bi-state coordinated vision for energy planning that can help meet state policy goals, support electric reliability, and comply with environmental standards.

As part of the two-year project, an air quality toolkit was created to provide resources to local governments. The goal of this toolkit is to help local officials learn about energy-specific programs and practices that can be implemented in order to improve air quality. The specific topics covered in the toolbox include: background information on electricity generation, rate setting and air quality, transportation, internal operations, funding and financing, and community programs.

• Carolinas Energy Planning for the Future Summary Report (PDF)

The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy, under Award Number DE-EE0006882. The information, data, or work presented herein was funded in part by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.