Solar Panels Cost $10k-$19k in Berkeley County, SC | August, 2025
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How much do solar panels cost in Berkeley County, SC in 2025?
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In the month of August, 2025 in Berkeley County, SC you'll pay approximately $3.12 per watt to go solar.
So, for every 1000 watts (or 1 Kw) your system can generate you will spend $3,120 to get your system installed in . When you consider the 30% federal tax credit, you can expect to pay around $10,920 for a 5 kW system in Berkeley County. However, a 5kW systemmay not be enough to fulfill your energy needs.
On the left-hand side, pick your county to determine the average roof size and the average maximum capacity for solar panel systems on homes within your area. Displayed below is a breakdown of the costs, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Berkeley County: $10,920US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Berkeley County: 5 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Berkeley County: $25,752US Average: $17,429
Solar Potential in Berkeley County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Berkeley County.
Roof size 769sq. ft.
Capacity 10.75kW DC
Electricity 13.7kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Berkeley County, SC & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
The typical electricity bill for a Berkeley County resident is 172.30, with a monthly consumption of 1,151 kWh. Please note that this statistic includes apartments and smaller homes, which typically have reduced energy needs.
For August 2025, the mean electricity rate in Berkeley County, SC is 14.97¢ per kWh.
Initially, a 9 kW setup is priced at $28,080, but after a 30% tax credit, you’re looking at a total of $19,656.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Berkeley County
Displayed on the left and below is the price breakdown for different sizes of the solar panel systems installed in Berkeley County. While a more extensive solar installation has a higher price, it also yields higher electricity savings and more substantial income tax credits.
The solar panel cost calculator to the right and below breaks down costs and benefits, using an average $172.30 electric bill in Berkeley County Change the $172.30 to your average bill payment for custom results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,188 a year
Est. Price
$10,920
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $99
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 9.07 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 417 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 22,452 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,426 a year
Est. Price
$13,104
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 9,504 kWh
Est. monthly savings $119
Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 10.88 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 500 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 26,943 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,663 a year
Est. Price
$15,288
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 11,088 kWh
Est. monthly savings $139
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 12.7 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 583 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 31,433 mi less a year
System Size 8kW
Roof Size Min. space required
572 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,901 a year
Est. Price
$17,472
Savings from a 8kWthis system
Est. yearly production 12,672 kWh
Est. monthly savings $158
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 14.51 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 667 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 35,924 mi less a year
System Size 9kW
Roof Size Min. space required
644 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,138 a year
Est. Price
$19,656
Savings from a 9kWthis system
Est. yearly production 14,256 kWh
Est. monthly savings $172
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 15.76 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 724 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 39,008 mi less a year
Berkeley County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2025
The REAP Grant can potentially cover between 80% and 100% of the installation costs for photovoltaic or wind turbines for rural small businesses and farms. If you believe yourself eligible, we recommend utilizing our REAP Grant eligibility tool to confirm your qualification.
Most residents can qualify for a 30% federal income tax credit for residential solar, which makes it a practical option in numerous areas of the United States. Along with that, there are several state and local efforts designed to further encourage the uptake of solar energy.
South Carolina offers 10 solar rebate and incentive initiatives through different utilities and government agencies.
Solar incentives in SCIncentive Description Value
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Corporate)
Value:Up to $3,500
South Carolina businesses are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per company. To claim the credit, interested businesses should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Santee Cooper - Rooftop Solar Rebate Program
Value:Up to $6,300
Residential and small commercial Santee Cooper customers may be entitled to rebates on new rooftop solar panels used for photovoltaic energy. Installations must be performed by a participating contractor and meet certain performance and safety standards. Additional information is available from the Santee Cooper website.
ConserFund Loan Program
Value:Varies
ConserFund is a loan initiative overseen by the South Carolina Energy Office. Loans support state/local agencies, public colleges and schools, and nonprofits in making energy efficiency improvements, including installing new renewable energy devices. Qualifying projects include building retrofit work, geothermal pumps, solar panels, or biomass systems. The available principal per loan varies from $25,000 to $500,000 depending on the nature of the project. The borrower has six months to begin installation from the time of the loan's disbursement. Qualifying public-sector borrowers may have 30% of their loan principal automatically forgiven.
Net Metering
Value:Varies
South Carolina electric customers using an interconnected solar or wind energy system may enter net metering agreements with their utility. Any system rated for under 20 kW (residential) or 1 MW (nonresidential) qualifies. The utility will install a bidirectional meter onto the system to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. Customers will receive energy bill credits for the NEG they generate at a fixed avoided-cost rate. Excess bill credits that remain at the end of the year will be paid as a lump sum. Additional information is available from individual utilities. Utilities may set their own net metering terms within a certain domain.
South Carolina Municipalities - Green Power Purchasing
Value:Varies
In 2001, Santee Cooper established a Green Power Program allowing residential customers to purchase renewably-sourced energy at $3 for a 100 kWh block. Commercial customers may purchase 200 kWh blocks at $6. Any customer-member of a South Carolina electric cooperative, as well as customers in Georgetown, may participate. Additional information is available through the Santee Cooper website.
State Building Energy Standards
Value:Varies
New government buildings in South Carolina are subject to green construction requirements. Generally, new occupied state facilities should meet or exceed the standards for LEED Silver certification. Buildings receiving two Green Globes may also meet the standards. By 2020, existing buildings should take measures to cut energy consumption by 20% from a 2000 baseline. Exceptions apply to buildings of certain types, as well as any project where it is determined that project costs would exceed gained energy efficiency. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Energy Office.
Interconnection Guidelines
Value:Varies
Distributed generation and grid interconnection practices have been standardized in South Carolina since 2006. New renewable energy systems in the South Carolina Electric and Gas, Duke Energy, and Progress Energy service areas will be organized into three regulatory tiers based on capacity. A system's tier will determine available permitting processes, fees, review turnaround time, and safety/performance standards. The state requires all interconnected systems to have multiple external disconnect switches. Non-residential system owners are required to carry at least $300,000 of liability insurance on their system.
Renewable Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit
Value:Varies
In South Carolina, tax credits are available for businesses involved in the manufacture of renewable energy equipment. Qualifying equipment includes solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and a range of other technologies. The maximum available credit is $500,000 per year and $5 million per company. As a condition for receiving the credit, companies are required to invest a minimum amount in new manufacturing facilities, jobs, or other expenses. The required investment will vary from county to county. Additional information is available from the South Carolina Department of Commerce.
Santee Cooper - Renewable Energy Resource Loans
Value:Varies
Residential Santee Cooper customers may be eligible for special financing on new solar PV, wind, biomass, or energy-efficient water heating projects. Qualifying systems should be installed by a participating contractor and meet the requirements for grid interconnection and net billing. The maximum available principal per loan is $40,000, to be repaid over ten years at a low interest rate. To apply, customers should schedule an energy efficiency audit with a Santee Cooper representative and obtain preapproval for the interconnection of their system. Additional information is available from the Santee Cooper website.
Solar Energy, Small Hydropower, and Geothermal Tax Credit (Personal)
Value:Varies
South Carolina homeowners are eligible for tax credits on the equipment and installation expenses of a new renewable energy system or energy-efficient building materials. Qualifying technologies include solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal as used to generate electricity or for heating/cooling. All system components are also eligible for credits. The credit is valued at 25% of costs up to $3,500 per property and $5,000 per taxpayer. To claim the credit, interested homeowners should obtain the proper paperwork from the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
Are solar panels worth it in Berkeley County, SC?
If you're planning to stay in your home past the period required to pay back your solar investment, installing solar panels is a good decision in Berkeley County. If you install a 5 kW solar system in Berkeley County, SC, you might save $30,432 over 20 years on average, with a break even point at around 5 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Berkeley County, SC
Beyond forgoing the savings, the absence of solar panels or another backup energy source results in full dependence on your electric utility for your power needs. As shown by many recent news reports, full reliance on your utility is not always ideal.
Yearly, customers in Berkeley County have encountered approximately 1.05 utility outages.Yearly, customers in Berkeley County have encountered approximately 1.05 utility outages. Usually, outages have an average duration of 99.04 minutes. However, during critical events like equipment failure, wildfires or vandalism, these times can extend dramatically.
View the graphic below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Berkeley County.
Whether it includes a backup battery or not, a solar panel system could ease the burden of any future power interruptions you may experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Berkeley County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Berkeley County, SC?
Your Energy Needs - The initial investment for larger solar panel installations is greater, but the average price per watt drops as the system grows. Many consumers realize it's a great idea to set up a solar system that can produce enough power to fully cover their electric bill, because it helps them save more money.
Make & Model - Just like other products, solar panels and mounting equipment are available in a range of makes and models. The potential brand preferences of your selected installer make it essential to choose a recommended company. For buyers desiring a better long-term experience, opting for higher quality makes and models is critical.
Solar Panel Type - For good reason why monocrystalline panels are now the industry standard. These panels cost more but yield a higher energy efficiency. The majority of installers in the industry work with panels made from this material.
Your Property - Each property and home has its own unique features. Uneven ground, trees, or other challenges may add to the difficulty of the installation. Solar installers today frequently utilize satellite imagery to evaluate your home and factor in these factors into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Employees receive varied wages from different companies, and these costs are passed on to the consumers. Usually, companies paying more in wages also enjoy higher ratings for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Installation costs will be impacted by varying local permitting and utility interconnection fees, depending on the region. Good installers will factor these costs into your preliminary quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other Berkeley County cities
As of August, 2025, the average per-watt cost for solar panels in Berkeley County, SC is $3.12/W. After federal tax credits, the installation of a 5 kW solar panel system in Berkeley County, SC is estimated to cost $10,920.
In South Carolina, you have access to 10 rebates and incentives provided by numerous utilities and government organizations. Moreover, nearly everyone is eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Choosing to pay cash provides the most savings, but today there are many financing options for solar panels that are also cost-effective. Information about financing options is typically included in initial quotes provided by installers.
Yes, homeowners in Berkeley County, SC generally see a payback time of 5 years for 5 kW solar panel systems, with electricity savings averaging $30,432 over a 20-year period.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
