Most addresses
Dominion Energy South Carolina
- Average home rate (2024)
- 14.59¢/kWh
- Paid for exported solar
- about 2.8–4.1¢ per kWh
- Net-metered home solar, utility-wide
- 16,090
SC solar company · Daniel Island office
Solar panel installation in Charleston, SC
Comparing solar companies in Charleston? We handle solar panel installation in Charleston from your first Dominion Energy bill review to switch-on. From the peninsula to West Ashley and Johns Island, we design solar built for Charleston roofs, Charleston weather, and Charleston’s rules, with a local team you can actually reach.
- $18,098 typical cost after the 25% SC credit (9.5 kW)
- Lifetime full-system and roof-penetration warranty
- Our own crews, owner-run, callbacks within the hour
Free roof and bill assessment
Takes under a minute. No pressure, and no guaranteed-savings math.
- 30+ yrscombined team experience
- ~450combined experienced installs
- Lifetimefull-system + roof-penetration warranty
- StatewideSC-based crews, callbacks within the hour
- Daniel Island, SC Our office: 500 Seven Farms Drive, #301, Daniel Island, SC 29492
Solar in Charleston · as of October 2026
Key takeaways
- A typical 9.5 kW system here costs about $24,130 installed, or $18,098 after South Carolina’s 25% credit.
- The federal homeowner credit ended on December 31, 2025. The 25% SC credit did not.
- One-for-one net metering closed to new applicants on 1 June 2021, and new Dominion Energy South Carolina systems are credited under Solar Choice instead, at roughly 2.8–4.1¢ per kWh for exports.
- Permits, historic-district review, HOAs and coastal wind rules shape the design. We handle the paperwork for all of it.
Bill-to-size
What size system does your Charleston bill need?
Enter up to three recent bills. We average them, convert to kilowatt-hours at your own rate, and show the size band that covers your usage. Nothing is sent anywhere until you choose to send it.
Your size band will appear here.
Add one bill and your rate to start.
- Yearly usage
- —
- System size
- —
- Likely production
- —
- Installed price band
- —
- South Carolina credit
- —
Your figures travel with the form, so you do not retype them.
An estimate for planning, not a quote. Real sizing depends on the roof planes, shade and the panel we can actually get, and we confirm it on site. The price band uses $2.54 per watt for Charleston. Tax treatment depends on your own liability. We are not tax advisers.
Solar in Charleston
Solar companies in Charleston: what is different here
Most Charleston homes are served by Dominion Energy South Carolina, though some addresses fall under Berkeley Electric Co-op or Santee Cooper pockets, which we confirm during the assessment. Under Dominion’s current Solar Choice framework, exported energy is credited on a time-of-use basis rather than the older 1:1 net metering, which closed to new applicants on 1 June 2021. Between coastal salt air, hurricane wind load, and older peninsula roofs, roof condition and mounting matter as much as panel choice here.
Charleston’s historic districts and Board of Architectural Review can affect panel placement and visibility, and many neighborhoods also have active HOAs. We design for approval and prepare the architectural-review package for you. Coastal and flood-zone homes get extra attention to mounting and roof-penetration detailing, covered by our lifetime roof-penetration warranty.
Homes in Charleston
What Charleston's homes mean for solar
- 36,929owner-occupied homes (56% of 66,408)
- 1994median year homes were built
- 48%of homes are single-family detached
- $469kmedian owner-occupied home value
- Half of Charleston homes are more than 32 years old, so the roof check matters here: a roof with under ten years left should be replaced before solar goes on, or at the same time.
- Only 48% of homes are single-family detached. In townhomes and condos the association or shared roof decides first, so we check governing documents before anything else.
- 36,929 Charleston households own their home, the ones who can install and claim the state credit.
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates for Charleston city. Estimates, rounded.
Honest numbers
Solar panel cost in Charleston, and what you can claim
$2.54 per watt local benchmark, July 2026. Worked examples, not a quote.
| System size | Before incentives | SC 25% credit | Net after credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,240 | $3,810 over 2 tax years | $11,430 |
| 9.5 kWClosest to our ~9.5 kW average system | $24,130 | $6,033 over 2 tax years | $18,098 |
| 12 kW | $30,480 | $7,620 over 3 tax years | $22,860 |
- EndedFederal 30% homeowner creditEnded December 31, 2025 (IRS).
- AvailableSC 25% state credit (TC-38)$6,033 over 2 tax years on a 9.5 kW system here.
- AvailableProperty taxQualifying residential systems of 20 kW or less are exempt from South Carolina property tax.
- NoneDominion Energy cash rebateNone from Dominion Energy South Carolina.
Buying or leasing: what changes in 2026
| You own it (cash or loan) | Lease or PPA | |
|---|---|---|
| SC 25% state credit | You claim it | You cannot claim it |
| Upfront cost | Cash, or a loan from $0 down | Usually none |
| When you sell the house | The system is part of the home | The buyer must take over the agreement |
| Price over time | Fixed once paid off | Check for a yearly escalator |
One-for-one net metering closed to new applicants on 1 June 2021, and new Dominion Energy South Carolina systems are credited under Solar Choice instead, at roughly 2.8–4.1¢ per kWh for exports. Solar panel cost in Charleston: the full breakdown · Charleston solar incentives · Financing options
Your utility decides payback
Three utilities serve Charleston. They do not pay the same.
Dominion Energy South Carolina and Berkeley Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper split Charleston street by street. We read yours off your bill first.
Some addresses
Berkeley Electric Cooperative
- Average home rate (2024)
- 14.93¢/kWh
- Paid for exported solar
- Set by the co-op; we confirm it per account
- Net-metered home solar, utility-wide
- 1,857
Some addresses
Santee Cooper
- Average home rate (2024)
- 11.38¢/kWh
- Paid for exported solar
- about 4.16¢ per kWh in summer and 3.84¢ outside summer
- Net-metered home solar, utility-wide
- 1,830
For comparison: South Carolina average 14.23¢ · U.S. average 16.48¢. South Carolina had 40,055 net-metered home solar systems at the end of 2024.
Rates: US EIA Form EIA-861, 2024 averages incl. fixed charges, not tariffs. Export terms as of July 2026.
Charleston sun, month by month
What a 9.5 kW system makes in Charleston
About 13,940 kWh a year from a south-facing roof with no shade. May is the strongest month at about 1,379 kWh and December the weakest at about 857 kWh.
Your roof will differ. Mature live oaks are part of what makes Charleston beautiful and they are the most common reason a design gets smaller here.
Estimate: NASA POWER sun data for Charleston, PVWatts model, south-facing, no shade.
Charleston specifics
What installing in Charleston actually involves
Six things shape a Charleston design. Getting them right is most of the job.
- 01
Your utility, confirmed per address
Most of Charleston is on Dominion Energy South Carolina, but Berkeley Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper serve some addresses. Your utility sets what you are paid for exported power.
- 02
What shades your roof here
Mature live oaks are part of what makes Charleston beautiful and they are the most common reason a design gets smaller here.
- 03
Coastal mounting and wind load
Charleston County sits in a high-wind coastal zone, so attachment spacing, structural review and roof-penetration detailing are more demanding than inland, and salt air punishes under-specified hardware.
- 04
Historic districts and HOAs
Charleston's historic districts and Board of Architectural Review can restrict panel placement and street visibility, and many neighbourhoods also have active HOAs.
- 05
Outages and climate
Multi-day hurricane-season outages are the scenario worth designing for on this coast, which favours essentials-first backup over whole-house ambition.
- 06
Permits in Charleston County
A building permit and a separate electrical permit for a rooftop system. We pull all of it and manage the inspection sequence.
Before you sign
How to choose a solar company in Charleston
- 1
The licence covers the work
Look the business up with SC LLR (the Residential Builders Commission and contractor licensing) before you sign, and ask which licence covers the electrical work in Charleston County.
- 2
Who is on the roof
Ask who installs and who services the system. Our own crews do both, from Daniel Island.
- 3
About 13,940 kWh a year, in writing
That is the unshaded ceiling for a 9.5 kW system in Charleston. A quote far above it, or one with no kWh figure, is guessing.
- 4
Dominion Energy, by name
The quote should use about 2.8–4.1¢ per kWh for exports, or the terms of whichever utility your bill names, not a national average.
- 5
The credit, year by year
9.5 kW at $24,130 claims $6,033 over 2 tax years. A quote should show that schedule, not one lump sum.
How it works
From your bill to switch-on, and you file nothing
- 1
Free assessment
We read 12 months of your Dominion Energy bills (or whichever utility your bill names) and check roof age, shade and orientation, plus the coastal attachment detail.
- 2
Design and a written quote
One Charleston design sized to your usage at the $2.54 per watt benchmark, with annual kWh and the 25% SC credit year by year.
- 3
Approvals
6 approvals in Charleston County, plus historic-district review where it applies. We file all of them.
- 4
Installation and inspection
Coastal wind-load attachment and salt-rated hardware, then the Charleston County inspections, which we book and attend.
- 5
Switch-on
Dominion Energy approves the interconnection and adds its about $14 a month solar charge. We tell you the day you are live.
Every approval a Charleston system has to clear (6)
- A building permit and a separate electrical permit for a rooftop system
- Standard plan review for systems of roughly 10 kW and above
- A zoning review as well for any ground-mounted array
- An additional electrical permit where battery storage is included
- Structural review, roof-access pathways and setbacks, because the county sits in a high-wind coastal zone
- Utility interconnection approval before the system is allowed to energise
Dominion Energy also charges a standing monthly fee of about $14 a month on solar accounts, which we include in payback.
Want this mapped onto your roof? The assessment is free and takes one visit.
Book my free assessment or call (843) 310-1128Our work
Real systems our crews have installed
Our own job photos, not stock or renders. Charleston County sits in a high-wind coastal zone, so attachment spacing, structural review and roof-penetration detailing are more demanding than inland, and salt air punishes under-specified hardware.
ResidentialClean rooftop layoutBlack-framed panels
ResidentialMulti-facet metal roofWooded aerial view- ResidentialFull black-on-blackPoolside single-story home
ResidentialStanding-seam metal roofLakeside multi-facet install
ResidentialDetached garage arrayFarmhouse-style home
ResidentialShingle rooftop arrayBackyard-facing slope
Photo locations are not published.
Charleston solar FAQ
Common questions from Charleston homeowners
Who is my electric utility in Charleston?
Most of Charleston is served by Dominion Energy South Carolina, with some addresses under Berkeley Electric Co-op or Santee Cooper. We confirm your exact utility during your free assessment, since it determines how your solar is credited.
What is the best solar company in Charleston, SC?
The one whose licence checks out with SC LLR (the Residential Builders Commission and contractor licensing), whose quote names Dominion Energy and states about 13,940 kWh a year for 9.5 kW, and who services what it installs. Ours does all three, with a lifetime full-system warranty.
How much do solar panels cost in Charleston?
At the $2.54 per watt benchmark, a 6 kW system is about $15,240 installed and a 9.5 kW system about $24,130. South Carolina’s 25% state credit brings those to about $11,430 and $18,098, claimed at up to $3,500 a year. In Charleston that 9.5 kW system makes about 13,940 kWh a year unshaded; your quote depends on roof, shade and usage.
Does Charleston have net metering?
One-for-one net metering closed to new applicants on 1 June 2021, and new Dominion Energy South Carolina systems are credited under Solar Choice instead, at roughly 2.8–4.1¢ per kWh for exports. Dominion Energy South Carolina households paid about 14.6¢ per kWh on average in 2024, so every kWh you use at home is worth more than one you export, and we size to your usage rather than to fill the roof.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not for homeowners who buy: it ended December 31, 2025. South Carolina’s 25% state credit still applies to systems you own, capped at $3,500 a year with a 10-year carry-forward.
Will solar raise my property taxes in Charleston?
Qualifying residential systems of 20 kW or less are exempt from South Carolina property tax. Check with the Charleston County assessor.
Should I lease or buy solar in Charleston?
56% of Charleston homes are owner-occupied, and for owners the choice is real. Buying, with cash or a loan, means you own the system, can claim South Carolina’s 25% credit, and add an asset to the house. With a lease or power purchase agreement the provider owns the panels, so you cannot claim the state credit for them, and a buyer of your home has to take over the agreement.
Do Charleston HOAs allow solar panel installation?
It depends on your community’s governing documents. South Carolina has no law that stops an HOA restricting solar, so we read your covenants and design guidelines first, then handle the architectural-review paperwork as part of every installation.
What permits does solar panel installation in Charleston need?
A building permit and a separate electrical permit for a rooftop system; Standard plan review for systems of roughly 10 kW and above; A zoning review as well for any ground-mounted array; An additional electrical permit where battery storage is included. We pull every one through Charleston County and book the inspections.
What are the downsides of solar here?
Your roof needs replacing within about five years. Do the roof first, or do both together. Your power bill is under roughly $90 a month. There is not enough spend to offset. Mature live oaks shade your best roof planes for much of the day. Shade is the one constraint equipment cannot solve.
Free assessment · Charleston, SC
See what solar looks like at your Charleston address
We read your bill, confirm your Dominion Energy South Carolina export terms, and tell you what your roof in Charleston County will actually carry, and say so if it will not pay.
- Most addresses here are on Dominion Energy South Carolina, but Berkeley Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper serve some addresses. We confirm yours from your bill before we quote anything
- A building permit and a separate electrical permit for a rooftop system: we pull it and manage the inspections
- Charleston's historic districts and Board of Architectural Review can restrict panel placement and street visibility, and many neighbourhoods also have active HOAs.
Prefer to talk? (843) 310-1128
Coverage
Are you a solar company near me in Charleston?
Yes. We install in Charleston and across Charleston County, from our office on Daniel Island in the Charleston metro. Dominion Energy South Carolina territory is the one we quote against here, and the permit route is Charleston’s own.
What "near me" usually means for a solar job
Distance matters less than three things: whether we are licensed in your state, which utility meters your house, and whether a crew can get back to you for service. All three are settled before we quote, not after.
How to check in one step
Call (843) 310-1128 and give us your address, or send it with the form on this page. We will tell you the same day whether you are inside a market we serve, and we will say so plainly if you are not.
Nearby: Mount Pleasant, SC , North Charleston, SC , Daniel Island, SC
We also install near Charleston
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