Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) solar export rate
What Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) pays for power exported from rooftop solar in South Carolina, with the source and the date it was checked.
No single rate — formula based
Solar Choice metering: energy taken from the grid is billed at the utility's time-of-use rates, and net excess is credited. ORS's published residential overview lists $0.0270/kWh (DEC) and $0.0230/kWh (DEP) per kWh produced, as the PSC-approved Solar Choice rates shown in that January 2022 document.
Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) · South Carolina
Former Act 236 2% framework transitioned to PSC-approved Solar Choice tariffs. ORS publishes the rate overviews but has not published a newer edition than the one dated January 2022, so the dollar figures are that document's, not a 2026 rate.
Source: ors.sc.gov · ors.sc.gov
Full Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) detail →South Carolina rules that apply to Duke Energy Carolinas (SC)
The state framework sets the default. Where Duke Energy Carolinas (SC) pays something different, the utility tariff governs and is what the card above reports.
| Compensation mechanism | Utility-specific Solar Choice metering for new applications; qualifying pre-June 1, 2021 applicants retain legacy net energy metering. Santee Cooper uses its Distributed Generation Rider and does not provide one-to-one retail net metering. |
|---|---|
| Export rate | No single statewide export rate exists. Santee Cooper's DG-25 rider lists $0.0415/kWh. Dominion Energy South Carolina's residential Solar Choice credits the applicable Rate 5 TOU energy rates and pays remaining November-cycle excess at avoided cost. For Duke, the most recent ORS-published rate overview (dated January 2022) lists $0.0270/kWh for Duke Energy Carolinas and $0.0230/kWh for Duke Energy Progress; those are that document's approved Solar Choice rates, not a current-year figure, and the filed tariffs control. |
| Rate effective | Solar Choice tariffs began June 1, 2021; the cited Dominion residential tariff is effective after the first billing cycle of July 2026; Santee Cooper DG-25 was adopted December 9, 2024. |
| Credit rollover | DEC/DEP excess credit remains on the account and carries to the next year; Dominion carries remaining TOU excess to the following month; Santee Cooper applies a monthly credit below $50 to the next billing month. |
| Credit expiration | Dominion pays accumulated excess at avoided cost during November billing cycles and zeroes the account. Santee Cooper pays a monthly net credit of at least $50 by check and applies a smaller credit to the next month; no statewide expiration rule exists. |
| Annual true-up | No statewide true-up date exists. Dominion uses November billing cycles for annual zero-out/payment; Santee Cooper settles monthly. |
| Aggregate program cap | The former Act 236 framework capped net-metering capacity at 2% of the utility's previous five-year average South Carolina retail peak demand. Current Solar Choice capacity limits are utility-specific and PSC-decided, not one statewide number. |
| Program status | No statewide open/full/closed status. The historic 2% cap led to successor Solar Choice tariffs; current capacity status must be checked in each utility tariff or PSC docket. |
| Grandfathering | Applicants before May 16, 2019 receive full-retail credit through December 31, 2025; applicants from May 16, 2019 through May 31, 2021 receive full-retail credit through May 31, 2029. Solar Choice applies to new customers from June 1, 2021. |
| Regulator | The Public Service Commission of South Carolina regulates investor-owned utilities, with the Office of Regulatory Staff representing consumers. Santee Cooper is the South Carolina Public Service Authority. |
| Governing rule | S.C. Code Ann. Sections 58-40-10 and 58-40-20, as amended by Act 236 of 2014 and Act 62 of 2019; current text also reflects 2025 Act 41. |
Other South Carolina utilities
- Dominion Energy South CarolinaFormula basedResidential Solar Choice Rate 5 TOU credits use applicable Rate 5 energy rates; remaining exces
- Santee CooperFixed rate$0.0415/kWh under Retail Distributed Generation Rider DG-25; exported energy is not credited on