South Carolina solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels
South Carolina State 52 solar panels available
- $2.00 / W Average gross price of a solar power system as of February 2023
- 8 years Average system payback period
- $61 509 Average savings from going solar in South Carolina
- 7 ¢ / kWh Levelized cost of solar energy
- 6.66 kW Recommended system size
Benefit from a PV system
in South Carolina
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5.23 hours of peak sunlight
South Carolina offers a decent amount of sunlight â enough to substantially offset your electricity bills
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Net Metering
The utility company will buy the excess electricity your PV modules generate, reducing the bills by more than 60%
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8 years payback period
A solar power system in South Carolina pays for itself a couple of times during its lifespan
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Reduce the cost of your system by 26%
Get a quarter of the PV system cost off your taxes with the Federal Solar Tax Credit
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Knock off another quarter of the costs
You can recover another 25% of the costs via a tax credit from the state government
South Carolina #16 in the US
Solar Ranking
- $61 509 Average savings from going solar in South Carolina
- 13 368 kWh/year Average electricity consumption of a FL household
- 7 736 kWh/year AC energy output of a 5 kW solar system installed in South Carolina
- 13 ¢ /kWh The cost of electricity today in South Carolina
- 27 ¢ /kWh The forecast average utility price over the next 25 years
- $2/WAverage gross price of a solar power system as of February 2023
What our happy customers say


and I contacted A1. Everything was processed, packed and delivered to Fresno, CA
in under a week. We kept in contact during the installation and I got a few additional
parts from them. A1SolarStore deserves a solid five stars!


Price was reasonable even with shipping added. Actually, it was the best I could find with the panels I wanted.
Customer service was beyond expectations. I received a phone call after the order to verify everything. The rep also went over receiving instructions. I got an email with recieving procedure. I got a follow up call the day before the panels were to be delivered. The day of delivery, the FedEx call also called. I got a follow call afterwards verifying everything was good.I had 8 350 watt panels shipped. They arrived via FedEx on a pallet. Recieving instructions said to not sign the recieving doc until I inspected everything. I am half paralyzed so I asked my neighbor ahead of time to help unpack the panels to inspect for physical damage. The FedEx guy dropped the pallet in my driveway and handed me the package list and then he very quickly left before I was able to inspect the panels. He said he did not need a signature. My mindset immidiately turned negative since fraud, burglary, murders, etc are now legal, encouraged, and even rewarded in the US. To my relief, the panels turned out to be in good shape.
I have had several different panels prior to ordering from A1 Solar. I am used to solar panels outputting 70% or less of the rated output.I hooked up one panel yesterday and I was getting over 85% at 9:30 AM in direct sun output which really suprised me. This number is what the charge controller reported while charging a 12 volt battery bank. My current project that these panels will be used for is my second offgrid system.
Next year after I have my house electrical panels rebuilt to allow for a whole house battery bank, I will be ordering another 7KWH in panels and I plan to order those from A1 Solar Store.


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Solar laws, incentives and rebates in South Carolina you need to know
Save 30% of your PV system cost with Federal Solar Tax Credit
The US government wants more people to go solar: itâs a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels, but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.
Save an additional quarter of the costs with Solar Energy Tax Credit

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 systemâs cost! Before applying, make sure your system is certified by an S.C. Energy Office approved organization.
Sell excess electricity with Net Metering Program

With a single exception â 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.
Save up to $6,300 with solar rebate programs
South Carolina doesnât 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%.
Install your solar panels in South Carolina with no worries
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.
Solar panels help South Carolina survive hurricanes
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 stateâs 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.