Solar Guide

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 for purchasing and installing a qualifying solar energy system on your South Carolina home.

The financial benefit is substantial – you can receive a credit worth up to $3,500 per installation, or 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 for up to 10 years. To qualify, your solar system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation or a comparable entity endorsed by the State Energy Office, and you must complete the installation before claiming the credit. The credit covers the solar panels, controls, tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, and other equipment used directly for the solar system, but does not include land or structural building elements like walls and roofs.

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 public service. This state tax exemption eliminates 100% of property taxes on qualifying homes and up to one acre of land, potentially saving homeowners thousands of dollars annually depending on their property’s assessed value and local tax rates.

To qualify, you must be 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. The home must be your primary residence, and you must own it solely or jointly with a spouse. 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 taxes were paid if you’re seeking refunds for previous years. You can apply online through MyDORWAY at MyDORWAY.dor.sc.gov, by mail, or in person at South Carolina Department of Revenue service centers. Required documentation varies by exemption type but typically includes medical certifications, VA disability ratings, recorded deeds, and proof of owner-occupied 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 rooftop solar panels on their homes. The program provides financial incentives to offset the cost 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 should note that there is a monthly fee of $10 under the Distributed Generation Rider, which covers fixed grid costs that solar customers continue to use when their panels aren’t producing enough energy.

To be eligible, solar systems must be installed by Santee Cooper Trade Allies – qualified contractors who are familiar with the program requirements. Only systems installed by these approved 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 and rebate process. After installation and final acceptance testing, customers can expect to receive their rebate within 6-8 weeks.

Net metering in South Carolina allows homeowners with solar panels to receive credit for the excess electricity they send back to the power grid. When your solar system produces more energy than your home uses, that extra power flows to the grid and you receive credits on your electric 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 receive full retail credit for excess power. Others like Duke Energy require time-of-use rates and credit excess generation at reduced 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 net excess generation.

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, and Dominion Energy conducts an annual true-up in November where excess credits are paid out at lower wholesale rates before resetting your account to zero.