Solar in Columbia, SC
With Dominion Energy South Carolina's electricity at about 17.0¢ per kWh and 1,441 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Columbia home today: about a 10.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 10.9 yrsSouth Carolina: 11.8 yrs
- 25-year net
- $28,825after paying $18,865
- Sun
- 1,441kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 17.0¢6% below U.S. average
A typical Columbia home, by the numbers
| Utility | Dominion Energy South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,032 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.7 kW, about 18 panels, 11,096 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $22,365, or $18,865 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,816 |
| Payback | 10.9 years |
| Exported power | 3.4¢/kWh (Dominion Energy South Carolina) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 1.9% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Columbia
- Owner-occupied homes
- 46%
- Single-family detached
- 49%
- Median home value
- $264k
- Median year built
- 1980
- Population
- 139,643
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 74%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 27,731 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Columbia
Public installation records for South Carolina don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in South Carolina.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Columbia
Is solar worth it in Columbia, SC?
For a typical home in Columbia, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.7 kW system costs about $18,865 after state incentives, saves about $1,816 in year one and pays back in about 10.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Columbia?
About 1,441 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% less than the South Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Columbia?
Most homes in Columbia are served by Dominion Energy South Carolina, at about 17.0¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Fairfield Electric Cooperative, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC).
How much do solar panels cost in Columbia?
A fair cash price is around $2.95 per watt before incentives, so about $22,365 for a 7.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Sumter 11.6 yrs
- Aiken 10.5 yrs
- Rock Hill 12.7 yrs
- Florence 11.7 yrs
- Fort Mill 12.8 yrs
- North Augusta 10.7 yrs
- Summerville 11 yrs
- Spartanburg 12.8 yrs
- All of South Carolina
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.