Electric company’s “peak hours” policy leads to Horry County resident launching petition for change

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) — Horry Electric Cooperative customers are concerned with the increase in energy cost during the company’s 3:00-6:00 p.m. summer “peak hours” policy.

These high summer temperatures have many locals sweating over the higher utility bills.

One Socastee man said that the rates are inconvenient, but also potentially dangerous, prompting him to begin a fight for change.

“To figure out ways to conserve energy without making people think that they have to completely cut all their power off for three hours,” said Harry Grillo.

Grillo launched a petition on Tuesday in hopes of Horry Electric doing away with away with summertime peak rates that charge customers $12 per kilowatt during the three-hour time frame.

Marketing Coordinator Jennifer Cummings with Horry Electric told WMBF News that customers are only billed for the highest, singular hour from during the peak hours. She said increasing the temperature on your thermostat a few degrees during peak hours could save you money.

While his household’s bill hasn’t increased, Grillo said the costs are putting his elderly relative in danger, and claims he has to leave them in the brutal heat inside each afternoon to keep their monthly bill from hiking.

“They have Parkinson’s so it’s hard for them to walk. Getting up and going out is not an easy thing to do, but they don’t want to stay in the house, just sitting there, and not able to be comfortable,” Grillo said.

Tips to conserve energy during peak hours include not running multiple appliances during peak hours, such as drying a load of clothes, taking a hot shower, or baking dinner in the oven.

Cummings said it will be more difficult to cool down your house, and you’ll see a major hike in your monthly bill if you often operate this way.

“Some members might see their bills go up, some might see them go down, but the vast majority of members may not notice a change at all,” Cummings said.

Cummings stressed to never turn your air conditioner completely off because there are more comfortable ways to save money.

“If you have a smart thermostat, you can set schedules, so you can set your home to pre-cool before peak hours and then bump it up a few degrees, so your HVAC system is not running as much,” Cummings said.

The seasonal policy was launched nearly one year ago, with summer hours beginning in April. Peak hours change in the winter to 6-9am.

Reach out to your local electric provider if your monthly bill is concerning.

Residents can find Grillo’s petition here.

For more information on the policy, click here.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WMBF. For more free content like this, download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

Copyright 2025 WMBF. All rights reserved.