Charleston, SC Solar Panels
In This Guide
- 01 Solar Energy in Charleston
- 02 Solar Cost Calculator
- 03 Charleston Reviews
- 04 Key Takeaways
- 05 Charleston Electricity Prices
- 06 South Carolina Solar Incentives
- 07 Charleston Solar Production
- 08 Solar Installations in Charleston
- 09 Choosing an Installer
- 10 Leasing Solar Panels
- 11 Frequently Asked Questions
Solar Power in Charleston
Charleston, SC’s sunny climate can make rooftop solar appealing, but solar panel installation depends on more than sunshine. Roof condition, shade, household energy use, and local utility rules all help determine what a system may look like for a Lowcountry home.
Learn what to expect from solar installation in Charleston and explore our guide to home solar panels to understand how they work.
SOUTH CAROLINA by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Charleston, SC?
Explore estimated solar installation costs in Charleston using Palmetto’s records of completed South Carolina installations. Local project data from Charleston and nearby communities—including Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and North Charleston—helps you see how home solar costs may compare for your area.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Charleston’s sunshine supports solar, but roof condition, shade, energy use, and utility rules shape each home’s system and potential value.
- Explore local cost estimates: a typical 7.38 kW system is estimated at $17,436 after listed state incentives, with projected 25-year savings around $44,486.
- Utility rules affect solar savings: export credits vary by provider, and production changes by season, so compare your utility’s terms and year-round output.
Charleston Electricity Prices
Electricity costs shape household budgets, and South Carolina’s recent price trend offers useful context for Charleston-area homeowners.
South Carolina’s average electricity price rose from 12.9 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents in 2024. It remained below the U.S. average, which increased from 13.7 to 16.5 cents over the same period.
These statewide figures aren’t a Charleston utility rate: bills and prices vary by provider and plan. Solar panels may offset some electricity a home buys from the grid, depending on system output and household use.
Over time, producing some power at home may help manage exposure to changing grid prices. The overall value depends on system cost, energy use, roof conditions, and utility rules; savings aren’t guaranteed.
Price of Energy: South Carolina vs National Average
Charleston Area Utility Providers
In Charleston, electricity customers may be served by Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Santee Cooper, or Dominion Energy South Carolina. The latest utility data provided are from 2023: 14.1¢, 11.4¢, and 14.4¢ per kWh, respectively.
Compared with 2023 averages of 13.70¢/kWh statewide and 16.0¢ nationally, Berkeley Electric and Dominion were above the state average but below the national average; Santee Cooper was below both. These figures show differences, not their causes.
These rates help frame solar’s potential value: electricity generated at home may reduce the amount bought from a utility, making each avoided kWh more valuable when utility rates are higher. Actual household results vary.
Charleston Utilities Electricity Rates
South Carolina Solar Incentives
Charleston-area homeowners may be able to offset solar costs through state and utility programs. Explore the solar incentives in South Carolina listed below.
South Carolina’s TC-38 offers eligible taxpayers who own qualifying systems a nonrefundable credit for 25% of eligible costs, subject to annual limits and a 10-year carryforward. Export credits vary by utility; there is no uniform statewide rate.
Options include Santee Cooper rebates, qualifying Dominion community-solar credits, and Duke Energy storage incentives for nonresidential customers. With LightReach, Palmetto handles the commercial ITC, passing savings into lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Solar Energy System Credit (TC-38) | State Income Tax Credit | South Carolina taxpayers who own and install a qualifying solar system may claim a nonrefundable credit of 25% of eligible costs, subject to annual limits and a 10-year carryforward. | Learn More |
| South Carolina Solar Choice and Utility-Specific Net Metering / Export Compensation | Net Metering / Net Billing | Solar customers may receive bill credits for exported electricity under utility-specific tariffs, but South Carolina does not provide one uniform statewide export-credit rate. | Learn More |
| Dominion Energy Community Solar Select | Community Solar Bill Credit | Certain Dominion Energy South Carolina customers who recently received electric-bill assistance may qualify for a no-cost community-solar subscription and a $0.01/kWh bill credit based on subscribed-panel generation. | Learn More |
South Carolina’s TC-38 credit is 25% of eligible solar system purchase and installation costs. The amount used in a tax year is limited to the lesser of $3,500 per facility or 50% of the taxpayer’s South Carolina income-tax liability; unused credit may be carried forward for up to 10 years. The credit is nonrefundable.
The taxpayer must own the qualifying system installed at a facility in South Carolina, so a renter or a customer whose system is leased generally cannot claim the credit. Eligible costs may include equipment and installation expenses. SCDOR guidance says a battery connected to a solar system and charged entirely by solar may qualify; a standalone or grid-charged battery does not qualify under that guidance. Claimants should review the current TC-38 instructions and retain invoices and system documentation.
South Carolina’s solar billing benefit depends on the electric utility, the customer’s tariff, and sometimes the date of the interconnection application. Investor-owned utilities use Solar Choice or other approved tariff options; credits for exported energy can depend on time of use, and fixed or non-bypassable charges may still apply. Older customers may have different transition or grandfathering terms.
Dominion Energy’s Community Solar Select is a no-cost solar subscription option for qualifying customers. The published program description provides a $0.01 per kilowatt-hour bill credit based on the generation of the customer’s subscribed panels; it does not require the customer to install rooftop panels or purchase a home battery.
Eligibility is described for customers who received electric-bill assistance from a Community Action Agency within the prior 12 months. Enrollment availability and current program terms should be confirmed directly with Dominion Energy before applying.
Ready to start saving with solar?
Speak with a Palmetto solar expert to find out exactly how much you can save with South Carolina incentives.
Get a Free QuoteCharleston Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Charleston’s long sunny seasons support solar, though summer clouds, rain, and changing sun angles affect monthly output. Like Boston or Seattle, weather doesn’t rule out solar with a well-designed system.
Solar Production in Charleston by Month
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
In July, your 10 kW system could power:
- 3.6 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for 18 hours AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge 5.4 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
In December, your 10 kW system could power:
- 2 average homes (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for 15 hours
- or Fully charge 3 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
Over a year, your 10 kW system could:
- Offset 10 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of planting 175 trees
- or Save approximately $4,234 in electricity costs
Want to know exactly how much solar can power your home?
Get a personalized solar analysis based on your actual home, energy usage, and roof characteristics.
Get My Custom EstimateSolar Panel Systems in Charleston
We’ve organized solar installation data from across the U.S. into this interactive map of Charleston. Explore the hexagons to see how many installations are in each area and discover the neighborhoods and communities where your neighbors have made the switch to solar.
How to Choose a Solar Installer in Charleston
Verify the license
South Carolina does not have one single “solar contractor” license. Residential solar work requires credentials that cover the work being done: electrical work requires a residential-builder specialty registration with an electrical classification or a residential-builder license. A roof-mounted system also requires the appropriate roofing specialty registration or a residential-builder license; added structural framing may require a carpenter classification. The state’s licensing guidance for installers and contractors explains these categories.
Ask each bidder which business and trade credentials cover your project, then confirm them with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), principally its Residential Builders Commission for residential work. Also ask your city or county whether there are local requirements for the work.
Look for certified installers
Ask who will design and install the system, and whether the people doing the work hold relevant certifications. NABCEP offers solar-industry certifications; these can indicate that an individual has met the requirements for a particular credential, but they are not a substitute for South Carolina’s required contractor credentials. Ask what each certification covers and verify the credential with its issuing organization. Manufacturer certifications may show that an installer has completed training or met a manufacturer’s requirements for its equipment; compare which brands and products the certification applies to.
Compare quotes the same way
Ask every installer to quote the same scope, and compare the written details rather than just the headline price. Check:
- System size: total capacity in kilowatts (kW) and price per watt.
- Equipment: panel and inverter brands and models.
- Expected output: estimated annual production in kilowatt-hours (kWh/year), plus the assumptions behind the estimate.
- Coverage: panel product and performance warranties, inverter warranty, workmanship coverage, and coverage for roof penetrations.
- Project responsibilities: who obtains permits and submits the utility interconnection application.
- Payment: total cost or monthly payment, and any escalator that could change payments over time.
Permits, interconnection and your HOA
Building and electrical permits are handled by the local authority having jurisdiction, typically a city or county building-code office; the required permits depend on your property’s jurisdiction. The homeowner or installer applies for utility interconnection to the electric utility serving the property. Depending on your address, that may be Dominion Energy South Carolina, Inc.; Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; South Carolina Public Service Authority; or Duke Energy Progress – (NC). Confirm your provider and ask who will manage the application. South Carolina’s permitting guidance provides more context.
South Carolina has no enacted law identified that prevents an HOA from banning or restricting residential rooftop solar; state guidance says HOAs may restrict panel placement. Check your HOA’s rules early and ask bidders how the proposed layout would address them. See the state’s residential solar guidance.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign the same day, before you can review the contract and compare bids.
- Unlicensed or out-of-state crews, or reluctance to explain which South Carolina credentials cover the work.
- Vague production estimates with no annual kWh figure or explanation.
- A large upfront deposit without a clear written schedule of payments and project milestones.
- Promises that homeowners can claim federal tax credits for solar purchases in 2026; homeowner credits ended December 31, 2025.
Leasing Solar Panels
Palmetto’s LightReach Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is available to eligible customers served by Dominion Energy South Carolina in the Charleston area. LightReach is not available through Berkeley Electric Cooperative or Santee Cooper; availability depends on your utility. Check your bill or contact your provider to confirm service.
With a PPA, you pay for the electricity your system produces at an agreed price per kilowatt-hour, so payments can vary with seasonal production. A lease instead has a set monthly payment. Learn more about buying or leasing solar.
Unlike paying cash, a LightReach PPA doesn’t require you to purchase the system upfront or take on its maintenance; Palmetto owns and services it under the agreement. Review LightReach details and terms to understand what’s covered.
Go solar without the investment
With LightReach, there are no investment costs to recoup, loan payments to manage, or maintenance needs to take on. As soon as your panels are active, your solar savings are too!
Explore LightReach LeasingFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. Charleston-area solar customers can receive bill credits for electricity sent to the grid, but the rules depend on the utility serving the home. Dominion Energy South Carolina offers time-of-use net metering: eligible exported energy can offset usage in the matching time period, with excess credits settled in November.
Santee Cooper nets usage monthly and pays for excess generation at seasonal rates. Berkeley Electric Cooperative credits exported power at $0.0592/kWh, with credits carried forward. Check your electric bill to identify your provider and confirm its current solar tariff.
Yes, an owned solar system may increase a Charleston home’s value. Zillow’s study found homes with solar panels sold for about 4.1% more on average. That is not a guaranteed premium; roof condition, system performance, utility terms, and buyer demand also matter.
This potential value increase applies to purchased systems, not leased or third-party-owned (TPO) systems. A lease or PPA may affect resale differently because the buyer may need to assume the agreement.
In Charleston, eligible homeowners can go solar with a LightReach lease for no upfront cost and a low fixed monthly payment. The calculator estimates $93 per month for a typical 7.38-kW system; payment estimates vary by home size, and availability depends on your utility.
As a cash-purchase alternative, the calculator estimates about $17,436 after listed South Carolina incentives for a typical system. The federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases following the 2025 federal law change. See the calculator above for estimates by home size.
With a solar lease, the provider owns and installs the panels, and you pay a set monthly amount to use the system. There’s no upfront cost. In Charleston, a typical 7.38 kW system is estimated at about $93 per month, using South Carolina’s production ratio of 1,442 kWh per kW per year and a rate of $0.105 per kWh.
Palmetto’s LightReach lease includes the system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and protection program with a 90% production guarantee in one payment. The lease payment is typically less than a homeowner’s current electricity bill, so savings may begin when the system is operating; actual bills vary with energy use and utility credits.
There isn’t one best solar installer for every Charleston home. Roof condition, shade, electricity use, utility export-credit rules, and the installation agreement all affect whether a system is a good fit.
Palmetto Solar has completed 1,145 installations in South Carolina since 2020. Our national experience, local installation network, and range of financing options can help Charleston homeowners compare system designs and payment choices.
Solar can be worth it financially in Charleston when your system’s cost and payments are lower than the electricity costs it offsets. With a LightReach lease, there’s no upfront investment, and the monthly payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, so savings can begin once the system is active.
Your actual results depend on your roof, energy use, utility and export-credit rules. LightReach availability also depends on your utility; check eligibility and compare the agreement’s terms with your current bills.
South Carolina’s nonrefundable TC-38 gives qualifying system owners a credit of 25% of eligible costs, capped at $3,500 per facility or 50% of state tax liability annually; unused credit carries forward for 10 years. Charleston utility export credits vary; Santee Cooper rebates may be available, and eligible Dominion customers may receive $0.01/kWh Community Solar Select credits.
After the 2025 federal law change, cash purchases no longer qualify for the 30% residential tax credit. With LightReach, Palmetto claims the commercial ITC and says it passes savings through as lower monthly payments.