South Carolina solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) allows homeowners to claim 26% of the cost of their solar power system installed until 2022 as an income tax deduction. For example, if your solar system costs $20,000, you are eligible for $5,200 (26% of the total gross cost) in tax credit. Solar system cost comprises not only the money spent on solar panels, but also freight shipping costs, professional installer fees, tools bought or rented and so on. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.

This program allows you to claim 25% of the total costs of a PV system, including the installation. You can claim up to $3,500 or 50% of your tax liability in any given year (the lesser of the two). If the credit exceeds these limits, you can claim the rest in the following ten years. The State Solar Energy Tax Credit is compatible with all other credits and incentives. It means that, together with the federal 26% ITC, you can recover more than half of the system’s cost! Before applying, make sure your system is certified by an S.C. Energy Office approved organization.

With a single exception – electric cooperatives, solar laws in South Carolina oblige all utilities with more than 100,000 customers to offer Net Metering. It allows residential solar owners to put the excess electricity into the utility grid instead of storing it with batteries. When you sell your solar power to the grid, you receive kWh credits that can be used to offset your next bills. Once a year utilities may pay out the accumulated credits (if there are any), but at an avoided cost rate, which is lower than the retail rate. When planning, keep in mind that an external disconnect switch is required by state law.

South Carolina doesn’t have an initiative encompassing the whole state. However, the largest state-owned utility, Santee Cooper, offers a generous rebate program. The company will pay $1.05 per every watt of the installed capacity, but no more than $6,300. To qualify for the program, your system must be installed by one of the approved contractors or a NABCEP-certified professional.


On top of this rebate, the utility can finance your transition to clean energy. Renewable Energy Resource Loan has a payback period of up to 10 years with maximum amount limited to $40,000. The loan rate is just 1.25%.

It is legal to install solar panels on your house in North Carolina. The state makes unlawful any prohibitions of this kind, including those implemented by homeowners associations (HOAs). However, some restrictions are allowed by the legislation. These include size or aesthetic requirements, but only if they do not prevent homeowners from effectively using a PV system. Prohibiting solar arrays visible from the ground is also possible in North Carolina.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Carolina is one of the five states where hurricanes hit most often. Overpowering winds damage the infrastructure and wreak havoc, living people without electricity for days and even weeks. PV modules have the strength to withstand most hurricanes, and they will be of great value in case of a blackout. In 2020, hurricane Zeta caused almost half a million blackouts across North Carolina. This is a big number, considering that Zeta is far from being one of the worst disasters in the state’s history. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, extreme weather events will hit more and more often and gain in intensity. This is a good reason to consider going solar.