Summerville, SC Solar Panels
In This Guide
Solar Power in Summerville
Summerville’s warm, sunny climate makes it one of the more practical places in South Carolina to consider solar. With state electricity prices rising 11% from 2020 to 2024, many local homeowners are looking to better understand their energy options.
This guide is built for Summerville residents who want straightforward answers about solar installation — how it works, what it costs, and what to expect. If you’re new to the topic, our home solar panel installation guide is a great starting point.
SOUTH CAROLINA by the Numbers
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Summerville, SC?
Using real installation data from Summerville and nearby communities like Ladson, Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner, this calculator gives you an honest, localized estimate of what solar panels would cost — and save — for your home.
System
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Key Takeaways
- Summerville’s sunny climate and rising electricity rates make solar a practical option — local homeowners can save an average of $43,000 over 25 years.
- South Carolina offers strong solar incentives including a 25% state tax credit, a full property tax exemption, and a sales tax exemption on solar equipment.
- You don’t need to buy solar panels to benefit — Palmetto’s LightReach lease lets Summerville homeowners start saving with no upfront cost.
Summerville Electricity Prices
Electricity costs in Summerville are rising. Here’s what the numbers show — and where solar panel installation fits in.
South Carolina electricity rates climbed from 12.9 cents per kWh in 2021 to 14.1 cents per kWh in 2024 — nearly a 10% increase in just three years. For Summerville homeowners, that trend means higher monthly utility bills with no clear end in sight.
Solar panel installation in Summerville gives homeowners a way to generate their own electricity and reduce their dependence on the grid. When you produce your own power, rising utility rates have less impact on your monthly budget.
Over time, that protection adds up. Many solar homeowners in Summerville lock in more predictable energy costs for 20 to 25 years — turning today’s investment into long-term savings as grid electricity prices continue to climb.
Price of Energy: South Carolina vs National Average
Summerville Area Utility Providers
Summerville homeowners are primarily served by two utilities: Dominion Energy and Berkeley Electric Cooperative. Based on 2023 data (the most recent available), both providers charge rates above South Carolina’s 2023 state average of 13.7¢ per kWh.
In 2023, Dominion Energy charged 14.4¢/kWh and Berkeley Electric Cooperative charged 14.1¢/kWh — each slightly above the SC state average of 13.7¢/kWh, though both remain below the 2023 national average of 16.0¢/kWh.
Even modest rates add up over time. Summerville’s above-average sunshine means solar panels can offset a meaningful share of your electricity use — making the local rate environment worth factoring into any energy decision.
Summerville Utilities Electricity Rates
South Carolina Solar Incentives
Summerville homeowners considering solar installation have access to several meaningful solar incentives in South Carolina that can help reduce the overall cost of going solar.
South Carolina offers a 25% state income tax credit, a full property tax exemption, and a sales tax exemption on solar equipment. Duke Energy customers may also qualify for additional rebates through the PowerPair solar and battery program.
As of 2026, the federal residential solar tax credit is no longer available. State and local incentives still apply. Homeowners who lease through LightReach benefit from Palmetto handling the commercial credit, with savings passed through lower monthly payments.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Solar Energy Tax Credit (TC-38) | Tax Credit | South Carolina homeowners can claim a 25% state income tax credit on the total cost of a solar installation, up to $3,500 per year with a lifetime maximum of $35,000. | Learn More |
| South Carolina Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | South Carolina provides a 100% property tax exemption for residential solar energy systems up to 20 kW, including paired battery storage and advanced inverters. | Learn More |
| South Carolina Solar Sales Tax Exemption | Sales Tax Exemption | Solar energy equipment in South Carolina is exempt from the state’s 6% sales tax, saving homeowners approximately $800–$1,500 on a typical residential installation. | Learn More |
| South Carolina Net Metering | Net Metering | South Carolina requires investor-owned utilities with more than 100,000 customers to offer net metering for residential solar systems up to 20 kW, with credit rates varying by utility. | Learn More |
South Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Credit allows homeowners and businesses to claim 25% of their total solar installation cost as a credit against their state income tax liability. The credit is capped at $3,500 per year and carries a lifetime maximum of $35,000 — or 50% of your annual state tax liability, whichever is less. There is no expiration date on this credit, making it available for 2026 installations and beyond.
Eligible technologies include solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, solar water heaters, and solar space heaters installed on a South Carolina property (primary residence or business). The credit is non-refundable, meaning it can only offset taxes you owe — but any unused portion automatically carries forward for up to 10 years, so you won’t lose the benefit if your tax liability is modest in any given year.
To claim the credit, file Form TC-38 (SCH.TC-38) along with your South Carolina state income tax return. You’ll need to include supporting documentation such as your solar system design, permits, and receipts showing total installation costs. Contact the South Carolina Department of Revenue at dor.sc.gov for the most current form and instructions.
South Carolina law provides a full 100% property tax exemption for solar energy systems installed on residential properties. This means that adding solar panels — which can significantly increase your home’s value — will not raise your property tax bill. The exemption applies to solar PV systems with a capacity of 20 kilowatts (kW) or less, and also covers advanced inverters and battery storage systems that are paired with solar.
Both owned and leased solar systems are eligible for this exemption, making it accessible regardless of how you choose to finance your installation. In most cases, the exemption is applied automatically, so no separate application is required. However, it is a good idea to confirm the process with your county assessor’s office to ensure it has been properly applied to your account.
This exemption provides ongoing annual savings for the life of your solar system. For homeowners in Summerville in areas with higher property tax rates or larger system sizes, the cumulative savings over 20–25 years can be substantial. Visit the South Carolina Energy Office at energy.sc.gov for more information on state-level solar tax incentives.
South Carolina exempts solar energy equipment from the state’s 6% sales tax. This exemption applies at the point of purchase, meaning the savings are immediate and reduce your upfront installation cost without requiring any additional paperwork or tax filing on your part.
For a typical residential solar installation costing between $15,000 and $25,000, the sales tax exemption translates to approximately $800–$1,500 in direct savings. While this may seem modest compared to the state income tax credit, it is an automatic benefit that stacks on top of all other available incentives.
This exemption applies to solar photovoltaic panels, inverters, racking, and other qualifying solar equipment. For more details on eligible equipment and the exemption process, visit the South Carolina Energy Office at energy.sc.gov or consult your solar installer.
South Carolina state law requires all investor-owned utilities with more than 100,000 customers to offer net metering to residential solar customers with systems of 20 kW or smaller. Under net metering, excess electricity your solar panels send to the grid earns you a bill credit that can be applied to future monthly bills. The program is capped at 2% of each utility’s average peak demand over the prior five years. Summerville residents are primarily served by Dominion Energy South Carolina, which offers 1-to-1 net metering credits with an annual true-up each November (remaining credits paid at a lower avoided-cost rate).
Because credit rates at most South Carolina utilities are well below the retail electricity rate, pairing your solar system with a battery storage system can be a smart financial move. Storing excess solar energy for self-consumption during peak hours — rather than exporting it to the grid at a discount — can significantly improve your return on investment. Most modern solar batteries include scheduling features that automate this process after initial setup.
Enrollment in a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan is required by most utilities to participate in net metering. Be sure to contact your specific utility before installation to understand all applicable fees, requirements, and current program availability, as terms can change. Use the South Carolina Energy Office’s Energy Saver Tool at solar.sc.gov to find current net metering program details for your utility.
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 QuoteSummerville 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.
Summerville enjoys nearly 215 sunny days per year, warm humid summers, and mild winters — all favorable for solar production. Even on cloudy days, panels still generate meaningful energy.
Solar Production in Summerville 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 Summerville
We’ve mapped every solar installation across the U.S. — and Summerville is lighting up! Explore the heatmap below to see which neighborhoods and communities near you have already made the switch to solar. Click any hexagon to see how many homes in that area have gone solar!
Leasing Solar Panels
If you’re not ready to purchase solar panels outright, Palmetto offers an alternative through LightReach — a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) available to most Summerville homeowners. With a PPA, you pay only for the electricity your panels produce, at a set rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh), rather than a fixed monthly amount. Because solar panels generate more power in summer than winter, your PPA payments will naturally fluctuate — but your annual savings typically mirror what you’d see with a flat monthly lease.
Compared to a cash purchase, a PPA through LightReach requires no upfront investment and no out-of-pocket maintenance costs. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, handles repairs, and backs production with a 90% guarantee — so you get the benefits of solar without the responsibilities of ownership. Homeowners served by Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC), Duke Energy Progress (DEP), or Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) are eligible for a PPA in Summerville. Note that customers of Berkeley Electric Cooperative are not currently eligible for LightReach. Learn more about the differences between buying and leasing solar.
For many Summerville homeowners, a PPA is a practical way to start saving on electricity costs right away. There’s no break-even period to wait for — your savings begin as soon as your system is turned on. If you’re curious whether a PPA or cash purchase makes more sense for your situation, Palmetto can walk you through both options based on your home’s energy use and utility provider.
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, solar makes practical sense for most Summerville homeowners. With nearly 215 sunny days per year and 5.2 peak sun hours daily, Summerville’s climate is well-suited for solar production. Rising electricity rates — up nearly 10% from 2021 to 2024 — make generating your own power increasingly valuable. Homeowners can save an average of $43,000 over 25 years, and South Carolina offers strong incentives including a 25% state tax credit and a full property tax exemption.
If upfront cost is a concern, Palmetto’s LightReach lease removes that barrier entirely — Summerville homeowners can go solar with no money down and start saving from day one.
Yes, Summerville homeowners have access to net metering, though the specifics depend on your utility provider. Most Summerville residents are served by Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC), which offers 1:1 net metering — excess solar energy credits carry over month to month as kWh credits, with an annual true-up each November at a lower avoided-cost rate (~2.8–3.4¢/kWh).
Homeowners served by Berkeley Electric Cooperative receive a net billing (export credit) instead, where all energy sent to the grid is credited at $0.0592/kWh, with credits carrying forward monthly. Because export credit rates are below retail rates at both utilities, pairing solar with battery storage can help maximize your savings by reducing what you send to the grid.
Yes, solar panels can increase your home’s value in Summerville. According to a Zillow study, homes with solar panels sell for approximately 4.1% more than comparable homes without them. For a $350,000 home in Summerville, that’s roughly $14,000 in added value.
South Carolina’s full property tax exemption for solar systems up to 20 kW means that added home value won’t raise your property tax bill — making solar a smart long-term investment for Summerville homeowners.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Summerville homeowners can go solar for a low fixed monthly payment starting around $82/mo — with no upfront cost. Palmetto owns and maintains the system, so you simply pay for the solar energy it produces.
If you prefer to own your system outright, a typical 7.29 kW cash purchase in Summerville runs approximately $17,211 after state incentives. Note that the federal 30% tax credit is no longer available for residential cash purchases following the Big Beautiful Bill. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate.
For many Summerville homeowners, solar can be worth it from day one — especially with a lease. Through Palmetto’s LightReach program, your monthly lease payment is typically less than your current electricity bill, meaning you start saving immediately with no upfront investment.
With electricity rates in Summerville rising nearly 10% from 2021 to 2024, locking in a predictable solar payment helps protect your budget long-term. Cash purchasers can expect an average of $43,000 in savings over 25 years, with South Carolina’s 25% state tax credit helping offset the initial cost.
Palmetto is a strong choice for Summerville homeowners considering solar. As a national company with a local focus, we’ve completed 1,008 installations across South Carolina since 2020 — with deep experience serving the greater Charleston area.
We offer some of the industry’s best financing options, including our LightReach lease with no upfront cost, as well as cash purchase options. Our vetted install network and 90% production guarantee give Summerville homeowners confidence from day one.
With Palmetto’s LightReach lease, Summerville homeowners pay one simple monthly payment that covers everything — the system, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There is no upfront cost. For a typical 7.29 kW system, the estimated monthly lease payment is approximately $92/month, based on South Carolina’s production ratio of 1,442 kWh/kW/year.
Because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and passes those savings to you through lower monthly payments — an advantage not available with cash purchases. Most Summerville homeowners start saving from day one, since the lease payment is typically less than their current electricity bill.