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South Carolina · 2026

Net metering & solar export credits

Classic 1:1 net metering is no longer the default story for many new residential systems in South Carolina. Here is the plain-language version of what changed, why utility matters, and how we design around it.

Written by , Owner & Sales Director Reviewed by Steve Morse, Owner & CEO

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What changed

Export credits replaced the old “spin the meter backward” story

Under older 1:1 net metering, every kilowatt-hour you exported often offset a kilowatt-hour you bought later, one-for-one. Many SC utilities have moved (or are moving) new residential systems onto export-credit or time-of-use frameworks. That does not mean solar “stopped working”—it means the design and the bill math need to match your utility’s current rules.

We size and explain systems against the program that actually applies to your meter, including whether battery storage is worth modeling. We will not pitch 2020 net-metering math in 2026.

Related reading: how net metering works in SC, 2026 financing & incentives, and battery storage.

Design implications

What this means for your project

  • Export ≠ full retail for many new systems

    When credits fall below the retail rate you pay at night, designing for self-consumption becomes more important than maximizing export.

  • Utility decides the program

    Dominion, Santee Cooper, Berkeley Electric Co-op, Duke pockets, and munis are not interchangeable. Address-level confirmation is step one.

  • Batteries change the equation

    Storage can shift midday production into evening and provide outage backup—especially relevant in coastal SC storm season.

  • Incentives are separate from export credits

    SC’s state tax credit and tax exemptions are tax rules; export credits are utility bill rules. We keep them separate so you are not confused by national pitch decks.

Net metering FAQ

Common questions we hear

Is 1:1 net metering still available for new SC homes?

For many major utilities, including Dominion Energy South Carolina’s current framework, classic 1:1 net metering for new residential systems ended for systems interconnecting after December 31, 2025. Always confirm the program rules that apply to your meter at application time.

What is Dominion Solar Choice?

Dominion’s Solar Choice framework credits exported energy on a time-of-use / export-rate basis rather than full retail 1:1. The practical effect is that self-consuming solar (and sometimes storage) matters more than maximizing export. We design around your rate and usage during the assessment.

Do co-ops and Santee Cooper work the same way?

No. Export credit rules differ by utility. Santee Cooper, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Duke territory pockets, and municipal systems each have their own interconnection and credit structures. We identify your utility from your address before designing.

Does battery storage help after net metering changes?

Often yes for homeowners who want backup and who want to use more of their midday production on-site. Whether it pencils out depends on battery cost, critical loads, and your utility rates—not a one-line marketing claim.

Read first

Utility and billing guides

How each South Carolina provider credits solar, and what that means for system size and quotes.

All South Carolina solar guides Solar learning hub

Free, no-pressure assessment

Want export rules modeled for your address?

Bring a recent bill if you have one. We’ll identify your utility program and show what solar (and storage) look like under those rules—not a national average.

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