Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) and solar
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) is an electric cooperative serving about 17,670 homes in South Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 20.6¢32% above South Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $2331,131 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~15%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 9.2 yrs9.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (South Carolina rule).
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.
Solar for a typical Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) home
| System | 9.3 kW (100% of 1,131 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $26,285, $22,785 after incentives |
| First-year savings | $2,566 |
| Payback | 9.2 years |
| 25-year net | $46,842 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 167
- Share of customers
- 0.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 17,670
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) and solar
Does Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) have net metering?
Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) follows South Carolina's rules: 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.
How much does electricity cost with Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC)?
Residential customers paid an average of 19.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 20.6¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,131 kWh a month, a bill of about $233.
Is solar worth it with Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC)?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 9.3 kW system costing about $22,785 pays back in about 9.2 years, with $46,842 net over 25 years.
How many Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (SC) customers have solar?
About 167 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Tri-County Electric Coop, Inc (SC) (EIA ID 14175). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.