In short: Much of the Upstate buys power from Duke Energy Carolinas, about 14¢ per kWh for homes in 2024, while Greer has its own city utility at about 11.8¢. After Hurricane Helene, Duke’s South Carolina customers averaged about 130 hours without power in 2024, storms counted. Ice storms are the other big risk.
This page covers Greenville, Greer, Simpsonville and Spartanburg. Statewide rules, the 25% state solar tax credit and contractor licensing are on our South Carolina energy guide. Here is what is specific to the Upstate: four kinds of utilities, a very different storm record from the coast, and the local permit offices.
Greenville–Spartanburg at a glance
- Duke Energy Carolinas: the investor-owned utility in Greenville and Spartanburg counties. Home price about 14.0¢ per kWh (2024 average). Outages in 2024 for its South Carolina customers: 180 minutes on normal days, 7,804 minutes (about 130 hours) with major events (EIA-861).
- Greer Commission of Public Works (Greer CPW): Greer’s city-owned utility. About 11.8¢ per kWh; it reported just 53 minutes of outages per customer in 2024, major events included.
- Electric co-ops: Laurens Electric (about 14.7¢; 97 minutes normal, 8,310 with major events), Blue Ridge Electric (about 18.9¢; 193 and 5,291) and, in Spartanburg County, Broad River Electric (about 15.9¢).
- Sun: 4.59 kWh per square meter per day in Greenville and 4.54 in Spartanburg (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,330 to 1,340 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: ice storms rated “very high” in both counties, and lightning “very high” in Greenville County; cold waves “relatively high” in both, with inland flooding, strong wind and tornadoes also “relatively high” in Greenville County (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: Greenville had 212 public charging ports, Spartanburg 61, Greer 47 and Simpsonville 4 (AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026; public Level 2 and DC fast ports).
Your utility and what it means
Duke Energy Carolinas. New solar customers go on Duke’s South Carolina “Solar Choice” time-of-use rate, where solar offsets your use only within the same time period and a monthly minimum bill applies; the state page has the details. Duke’s PowerPair solar-plus-battery incentive is, as far as we found, a North Carolina program, so don’t count on it in South Carolina. Duke had 12,409 net-metered home solar systems in South Carolina in 2024 (EIA-861).
Greer CPW. Greer’s utility has its own residential rate schedule for customer-owned renewable generation, and its interconnection application asks for a visible manual disconnect switch on an outside wall next to the meter, separate from the meter socket. Greer CPW has warned customers about door-to-door solar sellers who claim to represent its net metering program; they do not. For EV owners it adopted an EV time-of-use rate, with off-peak charging suggested from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and in 2022 announced a $250 credit for customers who install a home charger (EV with at least a 40 kWh battery, one per meter, first come first served). Check with Greer CPW that the credit is still open.
Laurens, Blue Ridge and Broad River co-ops. Co-ops write their own solar and export rules. We could not confirm them, so ask yours how it credits exported power and what its interconnection steps are before you sign. Note the price spread: Blue Ridge members paid about 19¢ per kWh on average in 2024, which changes the math for solar and batteries.
Backup power in Greenville–Spartanburg
Helene is why the Upstate’s 2024 numbers look so different. On September 27, 2024, Duke Energy reported about 639,000 South Carolina customer outages, with damage widespread across the Upstate, and parts of the grid had to be rebuilt rather than repaired (Duke Energy). Counting major events, Duke’s South Carolina customers averaged about 130 hours without power that year and Laurens Electric members about 138 hours, against one to three hours on normal days.
Add ice storms, which FEMA rates “very high” in both counties, and the planning goal is clear: be ready for several days without power, possibly in cold weather.
- Hours: a portable power station for essentials.
- A day or two: a home battery, ideally with solar to recharge between storms.
- Several days: a standby or portable generator sized to run heat as well as the fridge and well pump, if you have one.
Compare them on our backup power guide, use the battery backup calculator and generator sizing tool, and see generator installation. Safety: generators outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from openings, never in a garage (CPSC); battery-backed CO alarms on every level; a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician.
Solar in Greenville–Spartanburg
The Upstate gets about 1,340 kWh per kW of panels a year in Greenville on our rough estimate. At Duke’s 14.0¢ average, each kW could be worth up to about $190 a year if every kWh replaced power you would buy; on Greer CPW’s lower 11.8¢, less. Those are ceilings, not promises, because exports are credited by time period. Solar plus a battery, sized to your own evening use, holds value best on a time-of-use rate.
Greenville County’s solar permit rules spell out who may do what: the panels by a contractor registered as a solar panel installer, the roof mounting by a licensed builder or roofer, and the wiring by a licensed electrician, with systems up to 20 kW AC. The federal 30% credit ended for systems completed after 2025. Start with the solar potential calculator, solar cost and solar installation.
Home batteries in Greenville–Spartanburg
A battery covers the quiet, short outages well, and with solar it can stretch through longer ones; for a week-long rebuild like 2024’s, pair it with a generator. We found no Duke, Greer CPW or co-op battery rebate in South Carolina. See battery installation and home battery cost.
EV charging in Greenville–Spartanburg
Our estimate at 30 kWh per 100 miles: about $4.20 per 100 miles at Duke’s 14.0¢ average (about $500 for 12,000 miles), or about $3.50 at Greer CPW’s 11.8¢ (about $425), before any time-of-use savings. A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit, a permit and a licensed electrician; see EV charger installation and the EV charging cost calculator.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Greenville: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- City of Greenville: the Building and Permit Center publishes a solar panel application checklist, an inspection checklist and a solar zoning guide, and prefers online applications.
- Greenville County: Building Safety permits and its residential solar permit requirements.
- City of Spartanburg: building permits; any residential work needs one, issued to owners or licensed contractors.
- Greer: the city’s building permit page lists solar panels among the work that needs a permit.
- Simpsonville: the city’s forms and permits.
- Outside city limits in Spartanburg County: the county’s building office.
Check any installer’s license (see the state page), let them pull permits and file the interconnection application with Duke, Greer CPW or your co-op, and read your HOA covenants first if you have one.
Cities we cover
- Greenville
- Greer
- Simpsonville
- Spartanburg
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Greenville–Spartanburg energy FAQ
Who provides electricity in Greenville and Spartanburg?
Duke Energy Carolinas is the investor-owned utility in both counties. Greer has its own city utility, Greer CPW, which also reaches into Spartanburg County. Laurens Electric and Blue Ridge Electric co-ops serve parts of both counties, and Broad River Electric and Lockhart Power parts of Spartanburg County. Your bill tells you which one sets your rules.
Why were Upstate outages so long in 2024?
Hurricane Helene. Duke reported about 639,000 South Carolina customer outages on September 27, 2024, and parts of the Upstate grid had to be rebuilt. Counting major events, Duke’s South Carolina customers averaged about 130 hours without power in 2024, against three hours on normal days (EIA). Greer CPW reported only 53 minutes.
Does Greer CPW offer an EV charger incentive?
In 2022 Greer CPW announced a $250 credit for residential customers who install a home charger, first come first served, for EVs with at least a 40 kWh battery and one per meter, along with an EV time-of-use rate. Ask Greer CPW whether the credit is still available before you count on it.
Who can install solar panels in Greenville County?
Greenville County’s rules split the job: a residential specialty contractor registered as a solar panel installer for the panels, a licensed builder or roofing contractor for the roof mounting, and a licensed electrician (or builder or mechanical contractor with an electrical classification) for the wiring. Residential systems are limited to 20 kW AC.
Sources
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 for 2024 (utility sales, reliability, service territories, net metering), read October 3, 2026. Duke Energy news release, September 27, 2024. Greer CPW EV rate announcement (2022), interconnection application and solar scam notice. FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025). NASA POWER climatology, 2001 to 2020. City of Greenville, Greenville County, City of Spartanburg, City of Greer and City of Simpsonville permit pages. CPSC generator safety guidance.