As of August 2026, the key South Carolina solar statistics: the average residential electricity rate is about 16.2 cents per kWh (EIA), a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 10,120 kWh a year, installed cost runs $2.40 to $3.10 per watt, and simple payback is about 11 years. South Carolina’s 25% state solar income-tax credit (up to $3,500 a year) is still active in 2026, while Duke, Dominion, and Santee Cooper have moved new customers to Act 62 Solar Choice net billing.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: South Carolina solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (South Carolina, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 16.2 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 10,120 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.40 to $3.10 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $16,800 to $21,700
- State solar tax credit: 25% of cost, up to $3,500 per year
- Simple payback: about 11 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in South Carolina produces about 10,120 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 16.2 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for South Carolina; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our South Carolina solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 16.2 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 10,120 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.40 to $3.10 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $16,800 to $21,700 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| State solar income-tax credit | 25% of cost, up to $3,500 per year | S.C. Code 12-6-3587, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 11 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for South Carolina; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in South Carolina
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative South Carolina cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 7 kW | 10,120 kWh per year | $19,300 | about 11 years |
| Charleston | 7 kW | 10,207 kWh per year | $19,300 | about 10.9 years |
| Greenville | 7 kW | 10,061 kWh per year | $19,300 | about 11.1 years |
| Myrtle Beach | 7 kW | 10,381 kWh per year | $19,300 | about 10.7 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. See how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy (Carolinas and Progress) | Around 13 to 14 cents per kWh residential energy charge, varies by rate schedule | Legacy one-for-one net metering is closed to new customers. New residential solar (up to 20 kW AC) is on Residential Solar Choice under a time-of-use schedule, with net excess credited below retail plus a monthly minimum bill. |
| Dominion Energy South Carolina | Residential Rate 5 time-of-use; energy charge varies by season and time of day | NEM 2.0 ended December 31, 2025. New customers are on the Solar Choice tariff tied to Residential Rate 5, where exports are credited at time-of-use values rather than full retail. |
| Santee Cooper | Around 11 cents per kWh retail (self-consumption value) | One-for-one net metering closed to new residential systems December 31, 2025. New solar earns retail savings on self-used power and time-of-use export credits (about 3.84 to 4.16 cents per kWh), plus an upfront rebate. |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
South Carolina solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs, net metering, and any rebates make up the South Carolina incentive stack. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
South Carolina Solar Energy Tax Credit
A state income tax credit worth 25% of your solar system cost, capped at the lesser of $3,500 per year or 50% of your state tax liability, with any unused amount carried forward for up to 10 years. Still active in 2026 (active) (S.C. Code Ann. 12-6-3587, SC Department of Revenue / DSIRE, as of August 2026)
Act 62 Solar Choice net billing
Legacy retail net metering closed to new customers at the end of 2025. New residential solar is on Act 62 Solar Choice net billing with time-of-use export credits at Duke and Dominion, and a net-metering-plus-rebate program at Santee Cooper (active) (SC Public Service Commission, Act 62 Energy Freedom Act, as of August 2026)
Santee Cooper rooftop solar rebate
An upfront rebate around $0.65 per watt for eligible Santee Cooper residential customers who install rooftop solar (active) (Santee Cooper, as of August 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but South Carolina’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a South Carolina homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). South Carolina’s 25% state income-tax credit, net metering, and the incentives listed above were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for South Carolina (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at each city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates. Installed cost uses a cost-per-watt range informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for South Carolina. Simple payback divides the net system cost by the first-year value, where first-year value combines bill savings on self-used power with the reduced time-of-use export credits under Act 62 Solar Choice, and reflects the 25% state income-tax credit claimed over up to 10 years. We hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. The federal 25D residential credit ended December 31, 2025, so it is not included in these figures.
- Incentives and net metering: the South Carolina Public Service Commission, S.C. Code Ann. 12-6-3587, and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, South Carolina Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 21, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), DSIRE and the South Carolina Public Service Commission (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/south-carolina-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your South Carolina ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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How to choose a solar installer in South Carolina
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Related South Carolina solar guides
Use these companion pages to go deeper on the numbers above:
- South Carolina solar guide: the statewide overview of costs, incentives, and how to get started.
- Dominion Energy South Carolina solar: what to expect from interconnection and Solar Choice net billing with Dominion.
- Charleston solar: a local, city-level view for Lowcountry homeowners.
- Understanding net metering: how export credits work now that South Carolina has moved to Act 62 Solar Choice.
- Maryland solar data and statistics: the same dated, sourced treatment for another state, for comparison.
- Our data and methodology: how MySolarFY sources and models every figure on pages like this one.
Frequently asked questions
What are the key South Carolina solar statistics for 2026? As of August 2026, the average residential electricity rate is about 16.2 cents per kWh (EIA), a typical 7 kW system produces about 10,120 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), installed cost runs $2.40 to $3.10 per watt, and simple payback is about 11 years. The 25% state solar income-tax credit (up to $3,500 per year) is still active, and Duke, Dominion, and Santee Cooper use Act 62 Solar Choice net billing for new customers (as of August 2026).
What is the average solar cost in South Carolina in 2026? A typical residential system in South Carolina runs about $2.40 to $3.10 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in South Carolina? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 10,120 kWh a year in South Carolina (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a South Carolina homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). South Carolina’s 25% state income-tax credit and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, DSIRE, and South Carolina Public Service Commission sources as of August 2026, following our data and methodology standards; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. 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. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “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 may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
