Utilities · Solar in South Carolina
Duke Energy (South Carolina): how it credits the solar power you send to the grid
Retail-rate netting within each month and time-of-use period; leftover power earns about 3.8 to 4 cents. $30 minimum monthly bill.
Checked November 12, 2026. Utilities change these rules; check the current tariff before you sign.
How it works
Exported power earns roughly 85% of the retail price on average.
South Carolina's Solar Choice tariffs net exports against usage in the same month and pricing period at retail prices.
Leftover credit is paid at a low rate, and the $30 minimum bill means a very large system can't drive the bill to zero.
The rules apply to Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress customers in the state.
What it means for a typical South Carolina home
An average South Carolina home uses about 12,792 kWh a year. An 8 kW system costs about $20,560 at the 2026 median price and makes about 11,632 kWh in its first year, of which we assume about 6,979 kWh goes out to the grid because no one is home to use it.
| First-year savings | Payback | 25-year savings, after the price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Duke Energy (South Carolina)'s credit | $1,600 | 13 years | $27,998 |
| If every exported kWh earned the full price | $1,759 | 11 years | $33,060 |
The difference, about $5,062 over 25 years, is what Duke Energy (South Carolina)'s rules cost a typical system compared with full net metering. Using more of the power at home, while the sun is up, closes some of that gap. Uses South Carolina's average electricity price; Duke Energy (South Carolina)'s own prices may be higher or lower. Paid in cash, no federal credit, prices rising 2.5% a year, one inverter replacement.
Utilities in neighboring states
| Utility | State | Exported power | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy (South Carolina) | South Carolina | Monthly netting | About 85% of retail |
| Georgia Power | Georgia | Reduced credit (net billing) | 7.22¢ |
| Duke Energy (North Carolina) | North Carolina | Monthly netting | About 80% of retail |
All 55 utilities · Solar in South Carolina · Lease and PPA terms by company
Sources: Palmetto: South Carolina utility guide; 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); EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.