South Carolina

Vote Solar SC

Growing Energy Freedom

2019 has already proven to be a banner year for solar in the Palmetto State. In May, Governor McMaster signed into law the Energy Freedom Act, a bi-partisan bill that passed the legislature with a unanimous vote that extends net energy metering for another two years, calls upon the Public Service Commission to open up more competition from independent solar power producers in the generation market, and launches a number of renewable energy initiatives to expand access to solar offerings to customers in the state.

Vote Solar worked closely with a powerful coalition to achieve this landmark legislation for South Carolina.

In addition to the legislative victory, Vote Solar and other solar advocates are celebrating the defeat of a rate proposal that would have imposed the largest fixed charge of any investor-owned utility in the country on the South Carolina customers of Duke Energy.

This victory for clean energy and low-income advocates means that Duke Energy’s customers will retain more control over their monthly bills by adopting energy efficiency, installing solar, or changing behavior patterns to control their electric bills. It was important to protect all customers’ ability to utilize solar to reduce their bills as the legislature was simultaneously moving to open the market for even more customers to exercise this choice.