City of Loris: Lower Your Electric BillLower your summer electric bill · Horry Electric (843) 369-2211 · Santee Cooper (800) 804-7424
Energy · Billing help
Lower your summer electric bill
Find your provider, then work down a short list of changes ranked by how much they save, biggest first.
How to read this page: the city of Loris does not sell electricity, so provider names and numbers come straight from Horry Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper. The energy-saving actions are general guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR, and the SC Energy Office, not city policy. When in doubt about your account, call your provider.
Start here
Find your provider first
The city does not sell electricity. Depending on your address, you pay Horry Electric Cooperative or Santee Cooper. There is no online lookup, so check the provider name on a recent bill, or call.
Horry Electric CooperativeNew service and billing: 843-369-2211.
Santee CooperNew service and billing: 800-804-7424.
Cut the humidity load, cut the bill
In our humid summers your AC is not just cooling air, it is wringing water out of it. That extra moisture work is what runs up the bill, so the savings are in helping it work less. (DOE / ENERGY STAR)
Set the thermostat as high as comfortable, and run a ceiling fanRun fans counterclockwise in summer, and turn them off when you leave the room. Raising it 2 degrees with a fan running saves up to 14% off AC costs; a fan lets you set the thermostat about 4 degrees F higher; setting it back 7-10 degrees F for 8 hours a day saves up to 10% a year. (ENERGY STAR / DOE)
Seal and shade against the heatCaulk and weatherstrip gaps, and keep blinds closed on the sunny side during the day. Air-sealing and insulating saves about 15% on heating and cooling, up to $190 a year; cellular shades cut solar heat gain 60-80%. (EPA / DOE)
Keep the AC breathingCheck the filter monthly, and replace it at least every 3 months, plus get an annual tune-up. Nearly half of home energy goes to heating and cooling, so keeping the system clear helps it run efficiently. (DOE / ENERGY STAR)
Manage the humidityVent the bathroom and kitchen outside when you shower or cook, and don't over-ventilate a humid house otherwise. Keep indoor humidity between 30-50%; an ENERGY STAR dehumidifier is 20% more efficient. (ENERGY STAR / SC Energy Office)
Turn the water heater down to 120 degrees FRunning it at 140 degrees wastes $36-61 a year in standby loss alone. (DOE)
Switch to LEDs, and run the oven and dryer at cooler hours, and wash in cold waterLEDs use up to 90% less energy; a cold-water wash cuts a load's energy about in half. (DOE)
Quick wins, free, today: nudge the thermostat up a couple degrees and switch on a fan. Close the blinds on the sunny side. Flip fans counterclockwise. Turn off fans in empty rooms. Check your filter.
Programs, ask your provider
Each provider runs its own billing and efficiency programs. Ask about these when you call.
"Defeat the Peak" (shift big appliances out of the 3-6 p.m. summer peak).
Any provider, worth the phone call
These do not depend on who serves your address.
Ask about
SC Home Energy Rebates: income-based rebates on insulation, HVAC, and appliances (energy.sc.gov/rebates).
Federal tax credit: 30% back on heat pumps, insulation, windows, and a home energy audit, up to $3,200 a year.
Free weatherization and summer bill help if income-eligible, through Waccamaw EOC's Loris office at 3811 Walnut St, 843-756-6562. You apply in person.
Sources: U.S. DOE Energy Saver (energy.gov). ENERGY STAR (energystar.gov). SC Energy Office (energysaver.sc.gov). SC Home Energy Rebates (energy.sc.gov/rebates). Provider program pages. Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council (weatherization and LIHEAP). This is a prototype, not the official city site.