- Most Greenville homes are Duke Energy Carolinas, not Dominion. Duke serves the Upstate, so your solar credits follow Duke’s Solar Choice metering, its own successor to old net metering (SC ORS).
- South Carolina residential power runs about 16.18 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), just under the U.S. average near 18.44 cents, so the bill your panels offset is moderate.
- South Carolina keeps a 25% state solar income-tax credit, capped at $3,500 a year or 50% of your tax bill, with a 10-year carryforward (SC Energy Office).
- Under Duke Solar Choice, plan for a monthly minimum bill and, for systems over 15 kW, a grid access fee. Verify the current figures with Duke before you sign (SC ORS).
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
If you own a home in Greenville, this is how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026, and the first thing to get right is your utility. Most of Greenville and the wider Upstate is served by Duke Energy Carolinas, not Dominion Energy, which covers the Midlands and Lowcountry. That distinction matters, because Duke runs its own version of Solar Choice metering with its own minimum bill and fees. This page explains how Duke credits your solar in the Upstate, the 25% state tax credit that still helps, how Greenville permitting and interconnection work, and how to tell if your roof is a good fit.
Greenville solar at a glance
Greenville sits in Duke Energy Carolinas territory, so the crediting rules below come from Duke’s Solar Choice tariff, which replaced full-retail net metering for new customers. This is a different program from the Dominion Solar Choice that governs Columbia and Charleston, even though both use the “Solar Choice” name.
| Detail | What to know in Greenville |
|---|---|
| Utility | Duke Energy Carolinas, which serves Greenville County and most of the Upstate |
| Solar crediting program | Duke Solar Choice metering, a rider on a time-of-use rate, not old one-to-one net metering |
| How it differs from Dominion | Different utility, different tariff: Duke sets its own export credit, minimum bill, and grid access fee |
| Residential rate | About 16.18 cents per kWh statewide (EIA, May 2026), just below the U.S. average |
| State incentive | South Carolina’s 25% state solar income-tax credit, for system owners |
| Source | SC Office of Regulatory Staff, Energy Freedom Act |
What a typical Greenville system produces. According to MySolarFY’s own analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW rooftop system in Greenville (ZIP 29601) produces about 10,061 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts), which at South Carolina’s residential rate of about 16.18 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026) is roughly $1,630 of grid electricity your panels would offset in a year. Your own number depends on your roof, shade, and usage, so treat this as a planning estimate and get a site-specific figure from an installer. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator.
How Duke Energy net metering works in Greenville: Solar Choice
Duke credits your solar through Solar Choice metering, not old one-to-one net metering. Exports are valued on time-of-use rates instead of a flat retail credit. Under South Carolina’s Energy Freedom Act, new customer-generators moved to Solar Choice metering starting June 1, 2021, and to the permanent Solar Choice tariffs from January 1, 2022; Duke Energy Carolinas is the utility under Docket 2020-264-E (SC Office of Regulatory Staff). Under Duke’s Solar Choice, your account moves to a time-of-use rate, your imports and exports are netted each month within each time-of-use period, and any remaining net excess energy is credited at a filed per-kWh export rate that is lower than the retail rate rather than at full retail. The practical effect is that solar you use during higher-priced on-peak hours is worth more than surplus you export during cheaper hours, so how your usage lines up with production matters here. For the mechanics of export credits in general, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| Duke Solar Choice detail | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Rate structure | Time-of-use; on-peak energy is worth more than off-peak or super off-peak |
| How exports credit | Netted monthly within each time-of-use period, then net excess paid at a filed export rate below retail |
| Minimum bill | A monthly minimum applies, so credits reduce your bill only after that minimum is met; verify the current amount with Duke |
| Grid access fee | Charged on larger systems over 15 kW; most Greenville homes stay under that, but confirm your size with Duke |
To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback under a time-of-use credit, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
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South Carolina’s 25% state solar tax credit
Yes, South Carolina still gives homeowners a 25% state income-tax credit for solar. It softens the loss of the federal credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Under South Carolina Code Section 12-6-3587, the state credit equals 25% of the cost to purchase and install a solar energy system on your home, capped at $3,500 per year or 50% of your state tax liability for the year, whichever is less, and any unused amount carries forward for up to 10 years (South Carolina Energy Office; DSIRE). This is a credit for system owners, so if you lease or sign a power-purchase agreement the company that owns the panels typically claims the incentives, not you. Tax rules have conditions, so confirm your eligibility with the South Carolina Department of Revenue or a tax professional before you count on it.
What changed federally, and what it means for Greenville homeowners
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but the state credit and Duke’s crediting are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Greenville homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). Duke Solar Choice metering and the 25% state tax credit were not changed by that law. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner, so on a lease or PPA you do not file for a federal credit yourself. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
Permits and connecting solar to Duke in Greenville
Connecting a home system in Greenville follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until Duke grants permission to operate. Greenville homes usually pull an electrical permit through the City of Greenville or Greenville County, depending on where the home sits, and the general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer file a Duke Solar Choice interconnection application; confirm the current application fee with Duke.
- Local permit. The project pulls the required electrical and building permits from the City of Greenville or Greenville County for the site.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes the local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. Duke installs or reconfigures a bidirectional meter and moves your account to its time-of-use Solar Choice rate.
- Permission to operate. Duke issues permission to operate. The system may not run on the grid before this.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process for you, and the details and fees can change, so confirm the current Solar Choice terms with Duke before you commit. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. You can also compare statewide rules on our South Carolina solar guide.
How to choose a solar installer in Greenville
The Upstate has an active solar market, so you have licensed installers to compare. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper South Carolina licensing and the right City of Greenville or Greenville County permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Duke Energy Carolinas Solar Choice interconnection and its time-of-use rate, so the paperwork and permission to operate go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that is honest about the time-of-use credit, the minimum bill, and the 25% state tax credit. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve Greenville so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. Start your free Greenville solar match.
Frequently asked questions
Who is my electric utility for solar in Greenville, SC?
Most of Greenville and the Upstate is served by Duke Energy Carolinas, not Dominion Energy South Carolina, which covers the Midlands and Lowcountry. That matters because Duke runs its own Solar Choice metering tariff, with its own export credit, minimum bill, and fees. Confirm your specific utility on your electric bill before you plan a system, since a small number of Upstate areas are served by electric cooperatives instead.
Does Duke Energy still offer net metering in South Carolina?
Not the old one-to-one version for new customers. Under South Carolina’s Energy Freedom Act, new customer-generators moved to Solar Choice metering starting June 1, 2021, and to the permanent Solar Choice tariffs from January 1, 2022 (SC Office of Regulatory Staff). Under Duke’s Solar Choice you move to a time-of-use rate, imports and exports are netted monthly by time-of-use period, and any net excess is credited at a filed export rate below retail rather than at full retail.
How is Greenville different from Columbia or Charleston for solar?
The main difference is the utility. Greenville is Duke Energy Carolinas territory, while Columbia and Charleston are Dominion Energy South Carolina. Both utilities use a program called Solar Choice, but they are separate tariffs with different export credits, minimum bills, and fees, so the fine print you compare in Greenville is Duke’s, not Dominion’s. The statewide 25% tax credit and the roughly 16.18 cents per kWh rate apply across South Carolina.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A Greenville homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. South Carolina’s 25% state tax credit and Duke’s Solar Choice metering were not affected.
Is there a minimum bill or extra fee with Duke Solar Choice?
Yes. Duke’s Solar Choice design includes a monthly minimum bill, so your solar credits reduce your bill only after that minimum is met, and a grid access fee applies to larger systems over 15 kW. Most Greenville homes stay under 15 kW, so the grid access fee usually does not apply, but the minimum bill does. Because these figures change, verify the current minimum bill and any fees with Duke before you sign.
Do I qualify for the state credit if I lease or sign a PPA?
The Solar Choice crediting follows your Duke account, but on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels typically keeps the incentives, including the state tax credit, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the Solar Choice value and the 25% state credit in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Duke Energy Carolinas, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, South Carolina Energy Office, DSIRE, EIA, and IRS sources as of August 2026. Solar Choice terms, fees, rates, and tax rules all change over time, so confirm current terms with Duke Energy and the South Carolina Public Service Commission before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the incentives and bill credits often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
