In short: South Carolina homes paid about 15.5¢ per kWh in July 2026, below the U.S. average of 18.3¢ (EIA). Day-to-day power is fairly steady, but major storms pushed the average 2024 outage total past 52 hours per customer. Plan backup power first, then judge solar against the state’s time-of-use Solar Choice rules and its 25% solar tax credit.
This guide is built from South Carolina’s own numbers: what electricity costs here, how often the lights go out, how much sun the state gets, what the utilities and the state offer, and who licenses the people who do the work. Use it as a starting point, then check the linked program pages, because rates and rules change.
South Carolina at a glance
- Home electricity price: 15.47¢ per kWh in July 2026, up from 14.70¢ in July 2025; the U.S. average was 18.31¢. January to July 2026 averaged 15.93¢ (EIA, preliminary 2026 figures).
- Outages in 2024: about 118 minutes per customer on normal days (1.2 interruptions), but 3,136 minutes, or about 52 hours, once major events are counted (2.4 interruptions) (EIA-861, 2024).
- Sun: about 4.7 kWh per square meter per day in Charleston and 4.6 near the center of the state (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020 average). Our rough estimate: about 1,370 kWh per year from each kW of solar panels.
- Net metering: yes, with changes. Under Act 62 of 2019, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy South Carolina customers go solar on time-of-use “Solar Choice” tariffs.
- Plug-in (balcony) solar law: none found as of October 2026; your utility’s interconnection rules apply.
- State solar incentive: an income tax credit of 25% of purchase and installation cost, limited each year and with up to 10 years of carryforward (SC Department of Revenue).
- Electric vehicles: about 35,700 battery-electric and 13,700 plug-in hybrid cars and light trucks registered through 2025; 2,174 public charging ports at 697 locations, including 926 DC fast ports (AFDC, October 2026).
- Main utilities: Dominion Energy South Carolina (about 806,000 customers), Duke Energy Carolinas (about 674,000), Santee Cooper, the state-owned South Carolina Public Service Authority (about 216,000), and Duke Energy Progress (about 177,000) (EIA-861, 2024).
- Top weather risks: hurricanes, ice storms and cold waves are rated “relatively high” for expected yearly losses; winter weather, heat waves, tornadoes and strong wind “relatively moderate”; wildfire “relatively low” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Planned wildfire shutoffs: none. We found no public safety power shutoff program at Duke Energy, Dominion Energy South Carolina or Santee Cooper.
Backup power in South Carolina
The two outage numbers tell the story. On a normal year’s days, the average South Carolina customer loses about two hours of power across roughly one interruption. In 2024, the big events added up to more than 50 hours, so about 96% of the year’s outage time came from major storms, not everyday faults. That is the pattern for this state: long stretches of good service, broken by a few severe events that can last days.
FEMA’s ratings show which events to plan for. Hurricanes bring wind, rain and long outages. Ice storms and cold waves, rated just as high, can bring down lines and leave a home without heat. Heat waves and tornadoes add risk in summer.
What that means when you choose backup:
- For short outages (a few hours): a portable power station keeps phones, Wi-Fi, lights, a CPAP and a fridge going quietly and indoors safely.
- For one to two days: a home battery wired to your essential circuits covers most needs, and stretches much further when solar panels can recharge it after the storm passes.
- For multi-day hurricane or ice storm outages: a portable or standby generator can run for days on fuel. A standby unit on natural gas or propane starts by itself; a portable one needs fuel stored and a safe place to run it.
Many South Carolina homes end up mixing the two: a battery for the quiet, everyday outages and a generator for the rare long one. Use our battery backup calculator to see how long a battery runs your loads, and the generator sizing tool to find the right watts.
Generator safety: run any fuel-burning generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage or on a porch (CPSC). Put battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Connect a generator to house wiring only through a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician, never through a wall outlet.
Solar in South Carolina
Three things decide whether solar pays here: the price of power, the sun, and how your utility credits what you send back.
Sun. South Carolina’s solar resource is good. Our rough estimate of about 1,370 kWh per kW per year comes from NASA’s average sunshine in Charleston and a standard loss allowance; panels tilted south usually do better, shade does worse. A 7 kW system would make roughly 9,600 kWh a year on that estimate, a large share of a typical home’s use.
Price. At 15.47¢ per kWh, each kW of panels could be worth up to about $210 a year if every kWh replaced power you would have bought. That is the upper end (an estimate, not a promise): power you export is usually credited for less, and time-of-use rates change the value hour by hour. Because South Carolina’s price is below the U.S. average, payback here tends to be slower than in high-price states, which makes the state tax credit and a fair quote matter more.
Net metering. South Carolina’s Energy Freedom Act (Act 62 of 2019) replaced the old one-for-one net metering with “Solar Choice” metering for Duke Energy and Dominion Energy South Carolina. New solar customers move to time-of-use rates, and solar output offsets only the use in the same time period. Duke’s tariff includes a $30 monthly minimum bill, and larger systems can face a grid access fee. Santee Cooper and other utilities set their own rules. Read your utility’s current tariff before you sign, and see our guide to net metering.
State tax credit. South Carolina gives an income tax credit of 25% of the cost of buying and installing a solar energy system. The credit you can use in one year is limited (the SC Department of Revenue lists $3,500 per facility or 50% of your state tax, whichever is less), and the unused part carries forward for up to 10 years. It is nonrefundable, so it only helps if you owe South Carolina income tax. Check the program page, amounts and rules change.
No federal credit in 2026. The federal 30% residential clean energy credit (25D) ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025. Be wary of any quote that still counts it.
Plug-in solar. South Carolina has no plug-in or balcony solar law, so a small panel kit that plugs into an outlet is not covered by a state rule; ask your utility about interconnection before you use one.
You would not be alone: South Carolina had about 40,000 net-metered home solar systems by 2024, totaling about 302 MW (EIA-861). See what panels cost on our solar cost guide, and check your roof with the solar potential tool.
Home batteries in South Carolina
A home battery earns its place here in two ways. First, backup: it keeps essentials running through the short outages and, paired with solar, can ride through longer ones. Second, time-of-use: under Solar Choice rates, a battery can store midday solar and use it in the evening, when power costs more.
Pairing is still uncommon. Of about 40,000 net-metered home solar systems in 2024, only 753 reported a battery (EIA-861), so installers’ battery experience varies; ask how many they have put in. We have not confirmed a statewide or utility battery rebate in South Carolina; ask your utility whether it runs one. For prices and what drives them, see home battery cost.
EV charging in South Carolina
About 49,400 plug-in cars and light trucks were registered in South Carolina through 2025 (35,700 fully electric and 13,700 plug-in hybrids). The public network has 2,174 ports at 697 locations: 1,245 Level 2 ports and 926 DC fast ports (AFDC, October 2026).
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in South Carolina: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Most drivers charge at home. Our estimate: a typical EV uses about 30 kWh per 100 miles (a common fueleconomy.gov-style figure), so at 15.47¢ per kWh, 100 miles costs about $4.60, and 12,000 miles a year about $560. Your rate plan matters; on a time-of-use plan, charging overnight is usually cheapest. Try your own numbers in the EV charging cost calculator.
A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit, installed by a licensed electrician with a permit where required. The federal EV credit (30D) ended September 30, 2025, and the federal charger credit (30C) ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. We have not confirmed a South Carolina utility charger rebate; ask yours. More on our EV charging page.
Off-grid, small wind and micro-hydro
Fully off-grid living is rare where the grid is close, but a cabin, barn or lake lot far from a line is a different story; solar with batteries is usually the simplest start.
Small wind is fair at best and very site-dependent. NASA’s coarse data puts average wind near the center of the state at about 5.4 m/s at 50 meters, and about 3.5 m/s at 10 meters, closer to where a home turbine sits. The U.S. Department of Energy’s small wind guidebook suggests about 4.5 m/s at hub height for a grid-tied turbine, so measure on your own site before you buy. More on wind energy.
Micro-hydro needs a stream with steady flow and drop on your own land. We have not found state-level data to share, but note that South Carolina’s tax credit also names small hydropower systems. More on hydroelectric power.
Licensing and permits in South Carolina
Contractors are licensed by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). Home electrical work falls under its Residential Builders Commission, which issues a residential specialty electrical license; commercial electrical and mechanical work falls under the Contractor’s Licensing Board. Before you hire anyone for solar, a battery, a standby generator or an EV charger, search the board’s website (llr.sc.gov) for the company’s license and confirm it is active.
- Permits come from your city or county building department, not the state. A licensed installer normally pulls them.
- Gas lines for a standby generator need a licensed professional and a permit.
- Interconnection: solar and grid-tied batteries need your utility’s approval before you switch them on. Your installer usually files the application with Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Santee Cooper or your local utility.
Local guides in South Carolina
Utilities, rates, outage records, permit offices and local programs for each area:
Where we cover in South Carolina
- Charleston: Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston
- Columbia: Columbia, Lexington
- Greenville–Spartanburg: Greenville, Greer, Simpsonville, Spartanburg
- Myrtle Beach: Myrtle Beach, Conway
- Charlotte suburbs: Rock Hill, Fort Mill
- Also: Bluffton
Local pages will follow as we verify local information and installers.
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South Carolina energy FAQ
Does South Carolina have net metering?
Yes, in a changed form. Since Act 62 of 2019, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy South Carolina customers who add solar go on time-of-use “Solar Choice” tariffs, where solar offsets your use only within the same time period. Duke adds a $30 monthly minimum bill. Santee Cooper and other utilities set their own rules, so read your utility’s current tariff before you buy.
How does the South Carolina solar tax credit work?
You can claim 25% of the cost to buy and install a solar system as a credit against South Carolina income tax. The amount used each year is capped (the Department of Revenue lists $3,500 per facility or half your state tax, whichever is less), and the rest carries forward for up to 10 years. It is nonrefundable. Check the SC Department of Revenue page, since rules change.
How long are power outages in South Carolina?
On normal days, short: the average customer lost about 118 minutes of power in 2024 (EIA). Major events changed that: counting them, the 2024 average was about 3,136 minutes, or 52 hours. FEMA rates hurricanes, ice storms and cold waves as the state’s highest weather risks, so plan for a few long outages rather than many short ones.
Is a generator or a battery better for a South Carolina home?
It depends on how long you need power. A battery is quiet, starts by itself and covers most outages, especially with solar to recharge it. For multi-day hurricane or ice storm outages, a generator keeps going as long as it has fuel. Many homes pair a battery for essentials with a generator for the long events. Size either one with our calculators first.
Is there a federal solar tax credit in South Carolina in 2026?
No. The federal 30% residential clean energy credit ended for systems completed after December 31, 2025, and that applies in every state. In 2026, South Carolina homeowners can still use the state’s 25% solar income tax credit, plus any utility or local programs. Ask any installer who still lists a federal credit in a quote to remove it.
What does it cost to charge an EV at home in South Carolina?
Our estimate is about $4.60 per 100 miles at the July 2026 home rate of 15.47¢ per kWh, assuming 30 kWh per 100 miles. At 12,000 miles a year, that is about $560. Your car’s efficiency and your utility’s rate plan change the number; overnight charging on a time-of-use plan is usually cheaper.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, Tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B (July 2026 data, September 2026 release) and Form EIA-861 for 2024 (reliability, utilities, net-metered solar). FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). Alternative Fuels Data Center: vehicle registrations through 2025 and station counts read October 3, 2026. NASA POWER climatology, 2001 to 2020. U.S. Department of Energy small wind guidebook. Public Service Commission of South Carolina tariff filings and SC Department of Revenue solar credit guidance, checked October 3, 2026. SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. CPSC generator safety guidance.