Utilities, the solar industry, and environmentalists in South Carolina reached a comprehensive agreement yesterday that maps out a balanced approach to net metering in the state through the end of the decade.
As part of the deal, which was supported by Duke Energy and South Carolina Electric & Gas, utilities agreed not to seek any solar-specific fees until the end of 2020.
South Carolina now becomes the 44th state to adopt net metering. Previously, it only had a voluntary program.
“[The agreement] paves the way for South Carolina to become a solar market,” said Bryan Miller, president of The Alliance for Solar Choice. “To be clear, it’s not a solar market today; there’s been too much regulatory uncertainty. So this goes a long way to creating a path for people to go solar and take their own energy destiny into their hands.”
