Solar panel installation in Fort Mill, SC

Fort Mill-area homes are generally served by Duke Energy or York Electric Cooperative, depending on the address. We confirm yours during the assessment, since northern SC utilities credit solar differently than the coast.

The one whose licence checks out with SC LLR (the Residential Builders Commission and contractor licensing), whose quote names Duke Energy Carolinas and states about 13,240 kWh a year for 9.5 kW, and who services what it installs. Ours does all three, with a lifetime full-system warranty.

At the $2.59 per watt benchmark, a 6 kW system is about $15,540 installed and a 9.5 kW system about $24,605. South Carolina’s 25% state credit brings those to about $11,655 and $18,454, claimed at up to $3,500 a year. In Fort Mill that 9.5 kW system makes about 13,240 kWh a year unshaded; your quote depends on roof, shade and usage.

One-for-one net metering closed to new applicants on 1 June 2021, and new Duke Energy Carolinas systems are credited under Duke's current residential solar rate structure instead, at roughly 2.6–4¢ per kWh for exports. Duke Energy Carolinas households paid about 14.0¢ 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.

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.

Qualifying residential systems of 20 kW or less are exempt from South Carolina property tax. Check with the York County assessor.

84% of Fort Mill 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.

Most Fort Mill subdivisions have an HOA with architectural guidelines. We prepare the review packet and coordinate approval as part of every install.

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 York County and book the inspections.

Duke credits exported power at only a few cents, so if you are out all day and use power mainly in the evening, expect materially less bill movement without load shifting or storage. Your roof needs replacing within about five years. Your power bill is under roughly $90 a month.