South Carolina

Take Action

Join Vote Solar

We're working hard to protect and expand solar access in South Carolina. Sign up for updates from Vote Solar today. We'll email you when there's big news or opportunities to weigh in on critical issues for resilient solar and clean energy in the Palmetto State.

Updates

South Carolina Senate Passes Energy Freedom Act

I’m in Columbia today celebrating a big win for solar rights in South Carolina! The Senate just passed our Energy Freedom Act in a unanimous bipartisan vote. This is a huge win for solar progress, bipartisanship and the power of public engagement. After a disappointing nail-biter of a finish to last year’s legislative session meant ...

Voices for Energy Freedom in South Carolina

We’re on the way to huge clean energy progress in the Southeast. This month we joined over 120 solar advocates to take the South Carolina State House and deliver a powerful message: South Carolina needs energy freedom, NOW. WATCH the Rally for South Carolina Energy Freedom » We’re making substantial progress in South Carolina because ...

Net Metering

Like rollover minutes for a cell phone, net metering gives solar energy customers full credit on their utility bills for the excess clean power they contribute to the grid.

This simple billing arrangement is one of the most important state policies for helping Americans generate their own power from the sun. By encouraging private investment in local solar power, it’s creating jobs, reducing utility costs, and building a cleaner energy future for us all.

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.