Is solar worth it in South Carolina?
For a typical South Carolina home in 2026, solar is worth it: about a 11.8-year payback and $25,172 saved over 25 years after paying for the system. Check your own home, because roofs, usage and utilities vary a lot.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.8 yrs7.8 kW, paying cash
- Electricity price
- 15.6¢per kWh, U.S. 18.0¢
- Solar production
- 1,453kWh per kW per year
- Exports credited at
- ~19%Net billing (reduced export credit)
The numbers for a typical South Carolina home
| Electricity use | 1,049 kWh a month (South Carolina average) |
|---|---|
| Best-value system | 7.8 kW, producing 11,332 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Price | $22,610 at about $2.95/W; $19,110 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,703 |
| Payback | 11.8 years |
| 25-year net | $25,172 (7.2% a year return) |
| Rate increase assumed | 1.9% a year, from South Carolina's 2015–2025 history |
Paying cash, no federal credit, 5% discount rate, microinverters, $25 per kW a year for maintenance and repairs. Methodology.
Why it comes out this way
- Electricity costs 15.6¢ per kWh, close to the U.S. average of 18.0¢.
- Exported solar is typically credited at about 19% of retail, so systems pay best when sized for what you use yourself.
- A typical system here produces about 1,453 kWh per kW per year (ranked #14 of 51).
- There is no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026, which adds several years to payback compared with 2025.
Net metering and export rules in South Carolina
Net billing (reduced export credit). Since June 2021 new solar customers of Duke Energy and Dominion Energy SC are on 'Solar Choice' tariffs: you're billed on time-of-use rates, solar offsets usage within the same period, and monthly excess is credited at the low avoided-cost rate (~2-4 c/kWh). Duke has a $30 minimum bill.
Monthly net excess credited at avoided cost set in the utility's annual fuel case (2022: DEC 2.70 c, DEP 2.30 c, DESC 3.363 c). DESC nets only within the same TOU period.
- Netting: monthly
- Unused credits: Excess credit (dollar value at avoided cost) carries forward; residual paid/credited at year end.
- System size limit: 20 kW
- Fixed charges: Duke: $30/month minimum bill (as of 2022). DESC: $13.50 minimum bill. Mandatory TOU rates.
- Last major change: Solar Choice Metering tariffs approved by PSC April-May 2021, effective for applications from June 1, 2021 (available 10 years). Legacy NEM customers (pre-May 16, 2019) retained retail credit only until 2025-12-31.
- Pending: Credit values update in annual fuel cases; 2026 values not verified.
Read net metering explained to see why export rules can swing payback by years.
| Utility | Export credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy South Carolina | 3.4¢/kWh | TOU-period netting; excess at avoided cost (~3.4-3.8 c); $13.50 minimum bill. |
| Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) | 2.7¢/kWh | Solar Choice TOU; $30 minimum bill; excess at fuel-case avoided cost. |
| Duke Energy Progress (SC) | 2.3¢/kWh | Solar Choice TOU; $30 minimum bill. |
| Santee Cooper | Varies by utility | DG Rider; 20 kW residential cap; standby and metering fees eliminated with April 2025 rates; modified customer charge. |
Solar incentives in South Carolina
The federal 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. What that means.
| Program | Type | What you get | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Solar Energy Tax Credit | tax credit | 25% of purchase and installation cost; credit used in any year limited to $3,500 per facility or 50% of tax liability (whichever is less); excess carries forward up to 10 years (S.C. Code 12-6-3587). Statute contains no aggregate cap and no sunset for solar (only geothermal sunsets 2032); a third-party directory claim of a 2024 cap was not supported by the statute text. Claim on Form TC-38. Eligibility: SC taxpayers who purchase and install a solar system on their SC property. | active |
What solar costs in South Carolina
A fair cash price is around $2.95 per watt before incentives. For the 7.8 kW system that fits a typical home, expect roughly $19,600 to $27,600; smaller systems cost more per watt.
How many homes have solar
- Homes with net-metered solar (2025)
- 41,365
- Share of homes
- 1.5%
- Residential solar capacity
- 322 MW
- Growth over the past year
- +3.5%
Sources: EIA-861 (2025), EIA small-scale solar estimates, LBNL Tracking the Sun and state interconnection data.
Electric utilities in South Carolina
| Utility | Homes served | Price (2026 est.) | Typical use | Typical-home verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominion Energy South Carolina | 712,679 | 17.0¢ | 1,032 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Duke Energy Carolinas | 582,062 | 14.2¢ | 1,009 kWh/mo | Close call |
| South Carolina Public Service Authority | 188,962 | 13.4¢ | 959 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Duke Energy Progress | 143,884 | 15.9¢ | 1,061 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Berkeley Electric Cooperative | 119,545 | 16.9¢ | 1,149 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Horry Electric Cooperative | 91,545 | 14.3¢ | 1,072 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Palmetto Electric Cooperative | 69,848 | 14.9¢ | 1,210 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative | 68,647 | 20.5¢ | 999 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| York Electric Cooperative | 66,369 | 14.1¢ | 1,084 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Laurens Electric Cooperative | 59,786 | 16.2¢ | 1,071 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative | 57,067 | 17.4¢ | 1,158 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Aiken Electric Cooperative | 50,850 | 18.1¢ | 1,099 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of Rock Hill | 36,786 | 12.8¢ | 833 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Santee Electric Cooperative | 35,356 | 17.0¢ | 1,289 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Fairfield Electric Cooperative | 33,071 | 16.1¢ | 1,158 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| MPD Electric Cooperative | 32,130 | 14.2¢ | 1,312 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Black River Electric Cooperative | 30,874 | 15.7¢ | 1,289 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Broad River Electric Cooperative | 23,660 | 17.7¢ | 1,078 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Greer Commission of Public Wks | 23,192 | 13.3¢ | 898 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Lynches River Electric Cooperative | 21,730 | 16.9¢ | 1,066 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of Orangeburg | 20,682 | 15.7¢ | 1,079 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) | 17,670 | 20.6¢ | 1,131 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Easley Combined Utility System | 16,019 | 13.3¢ | 980 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Edisto Electric Cooperative | 15,540 | 19.6¢ | 1,200 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Newberry Electric Cooperative | 13,215 | 17.6¢ | 1,010 kWh/mo | Worth it |
Solar by city in South Carolina
- Charleston10.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Columbia10.9-yr payback · Worth it
- North Charleston11-yr payback · Worth it
- Mount Pleasant10.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Rock Hill12.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Greenville13.1-yr payback · Close call
- Summerville11-yr payback · Worth it
- Goose Creek11.2-yr payback · Worth it
- Sumter11.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Greer12.9-yr payback · Close call
- Florence11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Spartanburg12.8-yr payback · Close call
- Myrtle Beach12.2-yr payback · Worth it
- Hilton Head Island11.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Bluffton10.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Aiken10.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Fort Mill12.8-yr payback · Close call
- Anderson13-yr payback · Close call
- Conway12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Mauldin13.1-yr payback · Close call
- Carolina Forest12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Simpsonville13.2-yr payback · Close call
- North Augusta10.7-yr payback · Worth it
Protect yourself when buying
- Check the license. SC LLR Contractor's Licensing Board: mechanical contractor license with electrical classification (projects > $5,000); residential specialty registration for smaller jobs. Look up an installer
- Cancellation rights. Federal law gives you 3 business days to cancel most door-to-door sales over $25. How to cancel
- HOA and solar access. Limited - SC has provisions on HOA solar restrictions for certain communities; verify specifics.
- Community solar. Utility programs only (e.g., Duke Shared Solar, DESC Community Solar); limited availability.
Questions about solar in South Carolina
Is solar worth it in South Carolina in 2026?
For a typical South Carolina home, solar is worth it. A 7.8 kW system costing about $19,110 after state incentives saves about $1,703 in the first year and pays back in about 11.8 years. Your result depends on your roof, usage, utility and price, so run the calculator for your address.
How much do solar panels cost in South Carolina?
A reasonable cash price is around $2.95 per watt before incentives, or roughly $19,600 to $27,600 for a 7.8 kW system.
Does South Carolina have net metering?
Since June 2021 new solar customers of Duke Energy and Dominion Energy SC are on 'Solar Choice' tariffs: you're billed on time-of-use rates, solar offsets usage within the same period, and monthly excess is credited at the low avoided-cost rate (~2-4 c/kWh). Duke has a $30 minimum bill.
Is there a solar tax credit in South Carolina?
The 30% federal credit for homeowners ended for systems installed after 2025. South Carolina offers: South Carolina Solar Energy Tax Credit.
How do I check a solar installer's license in South Carolina?
SC LLR Contractor's Licensing Board: mechanical contractor license with electrical classification (projects > $5,000); residential specialty registration for smaller jobs.. Look up any installer with the state's license search at https://verify.llronline.com/LicLookup/.
Policy research current as of October 2026; sources include ors.sc.gov, cleanenergy.org, santeecooper.com. Electricity data: EIA, through July 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.