South Carolina

The SC Solar Energy Credit is a state tax credit that helps South Carolina homeowners save money when they install solar energy systems. This incentive allows you to claim a credit equal to 25% of the total costs you pay for purchasing and installing a qualifying solar energy system on your South Carolina home.

The financial benefit is significant but has limits. You can claim up to $3,500 maximum per solar installation, or up to 50% of your state tax liability for the year, whichever is less. If your credit amount exceeds $3,500, you can carry the excess forward and use it over the next 10 years. To qualify, your solar system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or a similar organization approved by the State Energy Office, and the system must be fully installed before you can claim the credit.

There are no specific deadlines mentioned for this residential solar credit, and it appears to be an ongoing program. However, homeowners should know that the credit only covers the solar equipment itself – like panels, inverters, controls, and installation costs – but does not include structural elements like roofing or land costs. You’ll need to file Form TC-38 when claiming this credit on your South Carolina state tax return.

South Carolina’s Property Tax Exemption program provides complete property tax relief for eligible homeowners who meet specific criteria related to military service, disability, or other qualifying conditions. This state tax exemption eliminates 100% of property taxes on your primary residence, including both the home and up to one acre of land, which can save homeowners thousands of dollars annually depending on their property value and local tax rates.

To qualify, you must be a South Carolina resident who owns and occupies your home as your primary residence, and you must meet one of several specific eligibility requirements. These include being a totally and permanently disabled veteran with a service-connected disability, a disabled former law enforcement officer or firefighter injured in the line of duty in South Carolina, a paraplegic or hemiplegic person (including those with Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, or ALS causing similar mobility issues), or a Medal of Honor recipient or former Prisoner of War. Surviving spouses may also qualify under certain conditions if they remain unmarried and continue living in the home.

Applications must be submitted within two years from the date property taxes were paid if you’re seeking a refund for previous years. You can apply online through South Carolina’s MyDORWAY system at MyDORWAY.dor.sc.gov, which is the fastest and easiest method, or submit a paper application by mail or in person. Required documentation varies by exemption type but typically includes medical certifications, VA disability ratings, recorded deeds, and proof of owner-occupancy status from your county assessor’s office.

Santee Cooper’s EmpowerSolar program is a utility rebate program that helps residential customers in South Carolina install solar panels on their homes. The program provides financial incentives to offset the upfront costs of solar installation while allowing homeowners to generate their own clean energy and potentially reduce their monthly electric bills.

The program offers a rebate of $950 per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity, with a maximum rebate of $5,700 per home. Santee Cooper also provides on-bill financing through their Smart Energy Loan Program for up to $40,000 for qualifying customers. However, participants will pay an additional monthly fee of $10 through the Distributed Generation Rider to cover fixed grid costs that solar customers continue to use when their panels aren’t producing enough energy.

To be eligible, homeowners must use a Santee Cooper Trade Ally contractor for installation, as only systems installed by these qualified contractors are eligible for rebates. The rebate application process is handled through the chosen Trade Ally, and Santee Cooper uses DocuSign to streamline the interconnection process. After installation and documentation submission, customers should allow 6-8 weeks for rebate delivery following final acceptance testing and smart meter installation.

Net metering in South Carolina allows homeowners with solar panels to receive credit for excess electricity they send back to the grid. When your solar system produces more power than your home uses, that extra energy flows to the electric grid and you receive credits on your utility bill. These credits can then offset the electricity you use when your solar panels aren’t producing enough power, like at night or on cloudy days.

The financial benefits vary significantly depending on your utility company. Some utilities like Dominion Energy offer true 1:1 net metering, meaning you get full retail credit for excess power. Others like Duke Energy require time-of-use rates and credit excess generation at lower rates of 2.6-4 cents per kWh. Export credit programs from cooperatives like Berkeley Electric pay around 5.9 cents per kWh for all power sent to the grid, while others like Santee Cooper pay 3.8-4.2 cents per kWh for monthly net excess.

Most South Carolina utilities require solar customers to be on specific rate schedules, often time-of-use rates that charge different amounts based on when you use electricity. Some utilities like Duke Energy also impose minimum monthly bills around $30, and York Electric Co-op charges an additional $3.30 monthly fee for net metering customers. It’s important to note that Duke Energy ended their 1:1 net metering program in June 2021, so new solar customers receive lower compensation rates for excess generation.