SC · Solar + Battery

Solar + battery installation in South Carolina

Battery-coupled solar is the package that closes most often in South Carolina. Federal Clean Tech ITC (30%) on storage stacks with state net metering. Free quote, ~2 minutes.

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7.5 kW
Average system size
$2.85/W
Average cost (USD)
10 yrs
Average payback
110+
Local installers

Why solar in South Carolina

South Carolina has one of the more generous state solar tax credits in the country and no longer has one-to-one retail net metering for new customers, and both facts have to be understood together. The state credit is 25 percent of system cost claimed on Form TC-38, but it is capped at $3,500 per year or 50 percent of your state tax liability, whichever is less, with a 10 year carryforward. On the utility side the Energy Freedom Act, Act 62 of 2019, required the Public Service Commission to establish a solar choice metering tariff, and rates under it became available for new service on or after June 1, 2021. Customers who enrolled earlier keep one-to-one compensation into 2029 depending on when they joined, so a neighbour's payback figures are very likely from a regime you cannot join. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D expired for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

Incentives & rebates

Net metering: Solar choice metering tariff (Act 62)

South Carolina no longer offers simple one-to-one retail net metering to new solar homes. The Energy Freedom Act, Act 62, signed on May 16, 2019, required the Public Service Commission to establish a solar choice metering tariff for customer-generators. The Commission approved rates for Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Dominion Energy South Carolina that became available to consumers applying for new service on or after June 1, 2021 and are available for ten years, with the value of exported power tied to time-of-use rates. Existing customers who enrolled earlier continue to receive one-to-one compensation into 2029 depending on when they joined. Santee Cooper does not provide one-to-one net metering either, and credits customer-generated energy consumed by the customer at the full retail rate. Confirm the arrangement that applies at your address with your own utility before sizing a system.

Related South Carolina resources

Battery + Storage

Why solar + battery in South Carolina

South Carolina has one of the more generous state solar tax credits in the country and no longer has one-to-one retail net metering for new customers, and both facts have to be understood together. The state credit is 25 percent of system cost claimed on Form TC-38, but it is capped at $3,500 per year or 50 percent of your state tax liability, whichever is less, with a 10 year carryforward. On the utility side the Energy Freedom Act, Act 62 of 2019, required the Public Service Commission to establish a solar choice metering tariff, and rates under it became available for new service on or after June 1, 2021. Customers who enrolled earlier keep one-to-one compensation into 2029 depending on when they joined, so a neighbour's payback figures are very likely from a regime you cannot join. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D expired for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.

✓ Federal Clean Tech ITC 30% on storage ✓ Outage resilience

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Tell us where your home is and we will match you with a vetted local installer.

How payback works in South Carolina

System cost
$21,375
Estimated net cost
$21,375
Estimated payback
~13.2 years
25-year net savings
~$19,125

These figures are illustrative; your actual quote reflects your roof, sun exposure, and local utility rates.

Cities we serve in South Carolina

8cities with vetted local solar + battery installers.

Frequently asked questions

How much do solar panels cost in South Carolina?
South Carolina solar averages roughly $2.85 per watt installed. The 30 percent federal Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D expired for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a cash or loan purchase no longer receives it. The 25 percent state credit on Form TC-38 still applies, subject to its annual cap.
What incentives are available in South Carolina?
The main one is the state income tax credit of 25 percent of system cost, claimed on Form TC-38, capped at $3,500 per year or 50 percent of your state tax liability, whichever is less, with a 10 year carryforward and a $35,000 total credit limit. There is no statewide rebate, and the federal residential credit has ended.
Does South Carolina still have net metering?
Not one-to-one for new customers. Act 62 required the Public Service Commission to establish a solar choice metering tariff, and rates under it became available for new service on or after June 1, 2021, with export value tied to time-of-use rates. Customers who enrolled earlier keep one-to-one compensation into 2029 depending on when they joined.
Is solar worth it in South Carolina?
For many homes, yes, but the arithmetic depends on two things a generic guide will get wrong: how much of the 25 percent state credit you can actually use given the $3,500 annual cap and your tax liability, and which metering arrangement you can join now rather than the one your neighbour is on.