Solar in South Carolina: is it worth it in 2026?
South Carolina is a slow-payback state: solar works, but it takes well over a decade to earn back what you paid. Three things decide that: electricity prices rank 30th of 51, its sun ranks 14th, and exported power earns retail credit within each month, with leftovers paid less. Of the 51 states and DC, South Carolina has the 20th-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $161 a month for 1,066 kWh. An 8 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,600 off the first year's bills, 83% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in South Carolina
- Size the system to cover your yearly use. With monthly netting, power you export is worth nearly as much as power you use, so aim for little leftover each month.
- The price per watt decides it. At 15.1¢ per kWh, the price per watt matters as much as the sun. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 16 years.
Payback by system size
An average South Carolina home uses about 12,792 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51% | 4.5 kW | $11,565 | 6,543 kWh | 14 years | $14,601 |
| 74% | 6.5 kW | $16,705 | 9,451 kWh | 14 years | $22,256 |
| 102% | 9 kW | $23,130 | 13,086 kWh | 13 years | $31,741 |
| 125% | 11 kW | $28,270 | 15,994 kWh | 15 years | $32,043 |
The 9 kW system pays back fastest, but the 11 kW system saves the most over 25 years. Assumes exported power earns about 85% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How South Carolina credits power you send to the grid
Monthly netting
Duke Energy nets exports at the retail rate within each month and time-of-use period, credits leftovers at about 3.8 to 4 cents, and has a $30 minimum bill. Dominion rolls credits over month to month until November, then pays about 3.8 cents for what's left.
By utility
- Duke Energy (South Carolina): Retail-rate netting within each month and time-of-use period; leftover power earns about 3.8 to 4 cents. $30 minimum monthly bill.
Before you sign in South Carolina
Check the license. Look the company up with the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board, by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
South Carolina has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
South Carolina compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 15.1¢ | 1,454 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
| North Carolina | 14.0¢ | 1,416 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
| Georgia | 14.7¢ | 1,420 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
Questions about solar in South Carolina
How long does solar take to pay for itself in South Carolina?
About 13 years for a typical 8 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does South Carolina have net metering?
Partly. Duke Energy nets exports at the retail rate within each month and time-of-use period, credits leftovers at about 3.8 to 4 cents, and has a $30 minimum bill. Dominion rolls credits over month to month until November, then pays about 3.8 cents for what's left.
Is there a solar tax credit in South Carolina in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 8 kW system in South Carolina, that credit was worth about $6,168 and brought payback down to 9 years, instead of 13 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in South Carolina?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,548 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical South Carolina home, adding about $461 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 13 years to 20 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in South Carolina?
There's no plug-in solar law yet in South Carolina, so your utility may treat a kit like any rooftop system.
How do I check a solar company's license in South Carolina?
Look the company up with the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (llr.sc.gov/clb) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; Palmetto: South Carolina utility guide; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.