Electricity In South Carolina

Of the 47 electricity providers in South Carolina, 32 of them report that they offer net metering. South Carolina has good regulations in place for consumers who are interested in taking advantage of net metering with solar panels.

There are 44 companies in South Carolina that reported energy loss, including Dominion Energy, Santee Cooper, and Berkeley Electric Cooperative. Together, these 44 electricity companies average an annual energy loss of 3.24% of electricity produced. The national average for energy loss is 2.72%, resulting in a rank of 27th worst in the US for South Carolina in this category.

Encouraging private citizens to purchase private solar panels can be a challenge due to high initial costs. States can help the cause by issuing rebates and tax breaks to their citizens. With over $2000 or 20% in tax credits for solar purchases, South Carolina has decent options for state solar tax credits. The state offers no rebates to citizens who are purchasing private solar. The state of South Carolina offers no property tax exemptions to homeowners who install solar panels, making it less attractive for citizens to do so. Residents in the state do not have access to a sales tax exemption when purchasing private solar panels.

Legislation enforced at the state level affects whether customers who are seeking renewable energy sources can easily find alternatives. Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) encourage or require electricity companies to produce a percentage of their electricity from renewable fuel sources. South Carolina, unfortunately, has no standards in place. Also, the state does not have any sort of low income solar programs that encourage the installation of solar panels at low income households.