South Carolina solar calculator
Size a South Carolina home solar system from your electric bill — kW, panel count, roof area, true cost with no federal credit for 2026 installs, and payback.
Quick answer: At $0.155/kWh and 4.8 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about 11.89 kW — 29 × 410 W panels covering ~58 m². Gross cost is ~$30,914 with no federal credit for systems installed after 2025, offsetting $2,400 a year for a ~12.9 year payback.
Your details
Ballpark, not gospel. Ballpark, not gospel. Sized at 78% real-world output with the South Carolina sun-hour average (4.8 peak sun hours) — confirm shading, roof angle and which tariff applies to your address with a local installer before buying, since Duke and Dominion play by different rules. New Duke customers go on the Residential Solar Choice tariff with time-of-use netting and only ~4.01–4.19¢/kWh for monthly surplus; full retail net metering survives only for grandfathered 2019–2021 systems through May 2029. The calculator values all generation at your retail rate; exports earn far less, so real savings track self-consumption and batteries.
The 30% credit ended — what changed
The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) gave homeowners a 30% credit on solar installed from 2022 through 2025. The July 2025 tax law ended it: no credit is available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. That is why every figure on this page is ~30% higher than pre-2026 guides show. If your system went live by the end of 2025, tick the box above to see the credit applied; leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit. Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
Typical South Carolina system sizes by monthly bill
| Monthly bill | System size | Panels (410 W) | Net cost (no 2026 federal credit) | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 6.15 kW | 15 | $15,990 | 13.3 years |
| $200 | 11.89 kW | 29 | $30,914 | 12.9 years |
| $300 | 17.63 kW | 43 | $45,838 | 12.7 years |
Computed at $0.155/kWh, 4.8 peak sun hours and $2.60/W installed, with no federal credit for 2026 installs. Run your exact bill above.
Solar in South Carolina: the details
Solar cost in South Carolina
South Carolina installs sit in the national middle, with decent sun. The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.60 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically landing $2.21–$2.99/W — within the $2.50–$3.50/W national band. A typical ~13 kW system grosses around $33,800, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs — but the 25% state tax credit is the strongest selling point here.
What moves the number: roof complexity, panel tier, and how competitive the quote market is in your metro. Get at least three quotes — spreads of $0.50/W between installers are common.
Export rules: getting paid for surplus power
Under Act 62, new Duke Energy customers don’t get 1:1 net metering. They go on the Residential Solar Choice tariff with time-of-use netting and only ~4.01–4.19¢/kWh for monthly surplus exports. Dominion rolls kWh forward and pays out leftovers each November. Full retail net metering survives only for grandfathered 2019–2021 systems, through May 2029.
Practical takeaway: don’t promise full retail net metering for new Duke installs — surplus is worth about four cents. Size to self-consumption and let the 25% state credit do the heavy lifting.
South Carolina solar incentives
South Carolina’s 25% state income tax credit (S.C. Code 12-6-3587) is active in 2026: capped at $3,500/year or 50% of state tax liability, with a 10-year carryforward for excess — it takes most homeowners two tax years to use the full credit. There is no federal credit for 2026 installs. Note: PPAs are not allowed in South Carolina (leases only).
Is solar worth it in South Carolina?
Verdict: marginal on the numbers, saved partly by the state credit. The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~12.9-year payback with no federal credit. The 25% state tax credit is the strongest selling point — but Duke’s ~4¢ export value caps the upside, so size to self-consumption and never oversize to chase exports.
Questions people actually ask
Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.
How many solar panels do I need in South Carolina?
It follows your bill. At the South Carolina average of $0.155/kWh and 4.8 peak sun hours, a $200/month bill needs about an 11.89 kW system — roughly 29 × 410 W panels covering ~58 m² of roof.
What is the average cost of solar panels in South Carolina in 2026?
The EnergySage marketplace averaged about $2.60 per watt installed in 2026, with market quotes typically $2.21–$2.99/W — within the national $2.50–$3.50/W band. A typical ~13 kW system grosses around $33,800, with no federal credit for 2026 homeowner installs.
Does South Carolina have net metering?
Not 1:1 for new installs. Under Act 62, new Duke Energy customers go on the Residential Solar Choice tariff with time-of-use netting and only ~4.01–4.19¢/kWh for monthly surplus; Dominion rolls kWh forward and pays out leftovers each November. Full retail net metering survives only for grandfathered 2019–2021 systems through May 2029.
Does South Carolina offer any solar tax credit or rebate?
Yes — a 25% state income tax credit (S.C. Code 12-6-3587): capped at $3,500/year or 50% of state tax liability, with a 10-year carryforward. PPAs are not allowed in South Carolina (leases only).
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available?
Not for homeowner purchases anymore. The residential clean energy credit (26 U.S.C. § 25D) is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the July 2025 tax law (Public Law 119-21). Systems installed by the end of 2025 can still claim 30%, and leased systems may still benefit because the leasing company claims the commercial credit instead. (Source: IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.)
Is solar worth it in South Carolina?
The calculator puts a $200/month bill at a ~12.9-year payback with no federal credit — marginal. The 25% state credit is the strongest selling point, but Duke’s ~4¢ export value means you should size to self-consumption and never oversize.
Figures last checked October 2026. Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (July 2026: 15.47¢/kWh), NREL PVWatts/NSRDB (~4.3–5.3 peak sun hours), DSIRE, South Carolina Public Service Commission; IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit.
More US solar calculators
Compare other states: Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina. And the national US solar calculator for country averages.
Comparing quotes? The solar cost calculator breaks down cost per watt and the solar ROI calculator maps your payback year by year. Going deeper: installation cost guide, how net metering works, how much you can save with solar and the solar batteries guide.