In short: Many Charleston-area homes buy power from Dominion Energy South Carolina, which averaged about 14.6¢ per kWh for homes in 2024 and lost customers about 32 hours of power that year once major storms are counted, against 81 minutes on normal days. Charleston County rates “very high” for hurricanes and coastal flooding, so plan backup power around storms first.
This page covers Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. Statewide rules, the 25% state solar tax credit and contractor licensing are on our South Carolina energy guide; here we look at what is different in the Lowcountry: your utility, the storms, the permit offices and the numbers behind each choice.
Charleston at a glance
- Dominion Energy South Carolina: one of the two utilities serving Charleston County. Home price about 14.6¢ per kWh (2024 average). Outages in 2024: 81 minutes per customer on normal days, 1,908 minutes (about 32 hours) with major events counted (EIA-861).
- Berkeley Electric Cooperative: serves members in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, including parts of the metro outside Dominion’s lines. About 14.9¢ per kWh; 89 minutes of outages on normal days, 293 with major events.
- Santee Cooper: the state-owned utility serves some Berkeley County addresses directly. About 11.4¢ per kWh and just 58 minutes of outages per customer in 2024, storms included.
- Sun: 4.7 kWh per square meter per day in Charleston (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,370 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards (Charleston County): coastal flooding, hurricanes and ice storms rated “very high”; cold waves, earthquakes, lightning, strong wind and winter weather “relatively high” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025). Overall risk: “relatively high”.
- Home solar already here: Dominion had 16,090 net-metered home solar systems across its South Carolina area in 2024, 648 of them with a battery (EIA-861).
- Public charging: Charleston had 184 public charging ports, North Charleston 131, Summerville 59 and Mount Pleasant 16 (AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026; public Level 2 and DC fast ports).
Not sure which utility you have? The name on your bill decides, not your city: Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville all have neighborhoods on Dominion and others on Berkeley Electric.
Your utility and what it means
Dominion Energy South Carolina. New rooftop solar customers go on Dominion’s “Solar Choice” rider to its Rate 5 time-of-use plan, as filed with the Public Service Commission. Power your panels send out during on-peak hours offsets on-peak use, and off-peak offsets off-peak. Extra credit carries to the next month, and whatever is left at the November bill is paid out at Dominion’s lower avoided-cost rate. There is a $13.50 monthly minimum bill, systems are capped at 20 kW, and a battery counts only if it charges from your panels. On Rate 5, summer on-peak hours are 4 to 8 p.m.; Dominion moved to new time periods on July 1, 2026, with weekends treated like weekdays, so check the current tariff before you size anything. For EV owners, Dominion describes a “You Shift, You Save” time-of-use plan; we did not find a South Carolina charger rebate.
Berkeley Electric Cooperative. As a co-op, Berkeley Electric sets its own solar and export rules, which are not the same as Dominion’s. We could not confirm them, so ask the co-op for its current interconnection and billing terms before you sign a solar or battery contract.
Santee Cooper. If your bill says Santee Cooper, you use its Distributed Generation rider, a $10 monthly charge with exports credited at a set rate, and you may qualify for its rooftop solar rebate when a Santee Cooper Trade Ally installs the system. Details are on our Myrtle Beach page, where Santee Cooper is the main utility.
Backup power in Charleston
Dominion’s 2024 record shows the Lowcountry pattern: everyday service was good, with 81 minutes lost per customer, but major events pushed the total past 1,900 minutes. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene left about 386,000 Dominion customers in the dark at the peak (Dominion Energy), with the Midlands and western areas hit hardest. Here, hurricanes and coastal flooding are the events to plan for.
- A few hours: a portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi, lights, a CPAP and a fridge.
- One to two days: a home battery on your essential circuits, recharged by solar after the storm passes.
- A long hurricane outage: a standby or portable generator. With coastal flooding rated “very high”, ask your installer and the permit office how high the unit and its transfer switch must sit.
Compare the options on our backup power guide, size a battery with the battery backup calculator and a generator with the generator sizing tool. See what a standby install involves on generator installation.
Generator safety: run a generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage or on a porch (CPSC). Keep battery-backed carbon monoxide alarms on every level. Connect to house wiring only through a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician.
Solar in Charleston
Charleston had the most sun of the South Carolina cities we checked in NASA’s data, about 1,370 kWh per kW of panels a year on our rough estimate (south-facing roofs usually do better, shade worse). At Dominion’s 2024 average of 14.6¢, that is worth up to about $200 per kW a year if every kWh replaced power you would have bought. That is a ceiling, not a promise: under Solar Choice, the timing of your use matters, and leftover credit is paid at a lower rate once a year.
Two local points. In the City of Charleston’s historic districts, a solar permit also needs a Board of Architectural Review application. And the federal 30% credit ended for systems completed after 2025, so any 2026 quote should count only the state credit. Run your roof through the solar potential calculator, compare prices on solar cost, and read how an install runs on solar installation.
Home batteries in Charleston
Batteries make sense here for two reasons: hurricane season, and Dominion’s time-of-use solar rate, where storing midday solar for the evening peak keeps more of its value. Only 648 of Dominion’s 16,090 home solar systems reported a battery in 2024, so ask installers how many they have put in. We found no Dominion or Berkeley Electric battery rebate. See battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Charleston
At Dominion’s 2024 average of 14.6¢ per kWh, and assuming 30 kWh per 100 miles, home charging costs about $4.40 per 100 miles, or about $525 for 12,000 miles a year (our estimate). A time-of-use plan with overnight charging can lower that. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit and an electrical permit, installed by a licensed electrician; see EV charger installation and try the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Charleston: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Charleston: the Permit Center at 2 George Street accepts residential solar permits online and publishes permit guidance for residential solar panels (roof plan, structural letter, electrical diagram) and residential generators.
- Mount Pleasant: the town’s Building Inspection Division; permits go through its online portal.
- North Charleston: Building and Permit Inspections, including an electrical permit.
- Summerville: the town’s Building Department, with online permits and inspection scheduling.
- Outside city or town limits: your county’s building department (Charleston, Berkeley or Dorchester).
Hire a licensed electrician or installer (check the license with the state board; see the state page), and let them pull the permits and file your utility’s interconnection application. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, read its covenants on solar panels and generators before you sign.
Cities we cover
- Charleston
- Mount Pleasant
- Summerville
- North Charleston
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Charleston energy FAQ
Who is my electric company in Charleston?
Charleston County is served by two utilities: Dominion Energy South Carolina and Berkeley Electric Cooperative (EIA). In Berkeley and Dorchester counties, Santee Cooper, Edisto Electric and Coastal Electric also serve some areas. The utility on your bill decides your solar rules, rates and programs, so check it before you get quotes.
How does Dominion credit solar in Charleston?
Under Solar Choice, you move to Dominion’s Rate 5 time-of-use plan. Exports offset use in the same time period, extra credit rolls to the next month, and any credit left at the November bill is paid at Dominion’s avoided-cost rate. There is a $13.50 monthly minimum bill and a 20 kW size limit. Check the current tariff, as time periods changed in July 2026.
Do I need a permit for solar in a Charleston historic district?
Yes. The City of Charleston’s residential solar guidance asks for a building permit with a roof plan, a structural engineer’s letter and an electrical diagram, and, inside a designated historic district, a Board of Architectural Review application as well. Your installer normally prepares these; ask the Permit Center if you are unsure whether your street is in a district.
How long do power outages last in Charleston?
On normal days, short: Dominion customers averaged 81 minutes without power in 2024. Storms change that; counting major events, the 2024 average was 1,908 minutes, about 32 hours. Berkeley Electric members averaged 293 minutes with storms counted. Plan for a few long hurricane outages, not many short ones.
Where should a generator go in a flood-prone Charleston yard?
Outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house with exhaust pointed away from openings, and on ground or a platform high enough to stay dry. FEMA rates Charleston County’s coastal flooding risk “very high”, so ask your installer and the city or county permit office what elevation and setbacks apply before you pick a spot.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (utility sales, reliability, service territories and net metering), read October 3, 2026. Public Service Commission of South Carolina eTariff: Dominion Energy South Carolina Rate 5 and Solar Choice rider. Dominion Energy newsroom, September 28, 2024. Santee Cooper EmpowerSolar pages. FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). NASA POWER climatology, 2001 to 2020. City of Charleston, Town of Mount Pleasant, City of North Charleston and Town of Summerville permit pages. CPSC generator safety guidance.