Thousands of Santee Cooper customers will see higher energy bills next spring after the state-owned utility company’s board voted Monday to raise electric rates. The base rate increase — the company’s first in seven years — means the average residential customer will pay an additional $11 per month,

Santee Cooper customers could see a change in their electric bill next spring. The state-owned utility company’s board is expected to vote Monday on whether to raise rates for its more than 200,000 customers in Berkeley,

Santee Cooper’s more than 200,000 residential customers will see their rates go up next year after the state utility’s board of directors approved an electric rate hike under a rate structure that encourages customers to avoid using certain appliances at certain hours of day.