Are Solar Panels Worth It in South Carolina? (2026)

Yes — solar is worth it in South Carolina. — a 6.0 kW rooftop system in South Carolina pays back in about 8.4 years and delivers $15,843 in net 20-year savings after install cost and the federal tax credit. Payback comfortably inside panel warranty life. Get 3 quotes to lock in the best installed price.

Payback8.4 yrs

Annual savings$1,370

Net install (after ITC)$11,550

20-yr net$15,843

Assumes 6 kW system at $2.75/watt (state avg), 4.7 peak sun hours/day in South Carolina, and 17.06¢/kWh electricity rate (April 2026).

The short answer

For most South Carolina homeowners planning to stay 8+ years, rooftop solar pencils out clearly positive over 20 years.

The 4 things that actually determine "worth it"

Electricity rate. South Carolina: 17.06¢/kWh. National avg: 18.83¢. Roughly at national average — payback will depend more on sun.
Sunshine. South Carolina: 4.7 peak sun hours/day. National avg: 4.5. Near average sun.
Install cost in South Carolina. $2.75/watt (state avg). Cheaper than national $3.00/W — competitive installer market here.
Incentive stack. Federal ITC 30% applies universally. 25% state tax credit (up to $3,500/year, $35,000 lifetime) Net metering: Yes, 1:1 for Duke and Dominion customers Full incentive breakdown →

Where South Carolina ranks nationally

Across all 51 states, South Carolina ranks #20 of 51 by 20-year net solar savings (1 = best). The top states are dominated by combinations of high electricity rates and high sunshine (CA, HI, MA, NY, CT). The bottom are cheap-power / cloudy-sky states (WA, OR, ID, ND).

See the full national ranking.

Break-even analysis

Your solar system in South Carolina needs to save $11,550 in electricity to pay for itself. At $1,370/year savings, that’s 8.4 years. Panels are warrantied for 25 years and typically last 30+ — meaning 21.6+ years of free electricity after breakeven.

Common objections addressed

“What if I move before payback?”

Homes with paid-off solar typically sell for ~$15,000-$25,000 more than comparable homes without. If you owe money on the panels (loan), the sale is more complex. Cash or fully-paid-off systems recover most or all of the remaining "unused" value at sale.

“Won’t rates drop?”

U.S. residential electricity rates have risen ~4%/year over the past decade. Even if rates flatline, the payback above holds. If rates rise, your solar looks better in retrospect.

“What about hail / storms?”

Solar panels are rated for 1-inch hail at 50 mph. Damage claims are covered by homeowner’s insurance in almost all cases (verify with your carrier).