Solar Power Information

Let Your Cooperative help you make an informed decision about solar energy. As Your Trusted Energy Experts, we will walk you through the process and help you understand the economics. Have peace of mind and allow YOUR cooperative to help you make decisions about your solar energy needs.
Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun. People can harness the sun’s energy in a few different ways: Photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. Solar thermal technology is heat from the sun is used to make hot water or steam.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs announced new regulations on the marketing and sale of renewable energy. Solar companies are now required to meet the following guidelines to help consumers make informed decisions:

1. Consumers aged 70 or older must be given 3 days to review the contract prior to signing.
2. All consumers may cancel a contract without fees or penalty within 10 days of signing.
3. Prospective clients must be provided an educational brochure that details solar basics, consumer rights, questions to ask the seller and red flags to watch for.
4. Before signing a contract, consumers must be provided a disclosure statement that clearly lays out specifications and costs of the solar installation.
5. When a building permit is denied or a consumer’s homeowners association does not approve the install, a consumer has 7 days to cancel the contract or amend it.
6. Consumers must be given a copy of the contract that contains a description of all fees, install dates, details on any savings described, warranty information and more details required by the law.
7. Visit the South Carolina Solar Government Websites:
SC.gov: https://solar.sc.gov/
SC.gov: http://energy.sc.gov/sites/energy/files/Documents/SolarGuideHomeowners.pdf
Statewide My SC Solar: https://myscsolar.com/

Requirements for Solar Providers

• As part of the site-plan diagram, the location of a ground-mounted solar system must be clearly marked on the member’s property. This action would ensure that when the Edisto representative makes a visit to the site, there would be no question about the exact position of the planned solar array.
• The cooperative will not approve any lineside taps. Should such a configuration be encountered, the solar-system application would not be approved, nor would the interconnection process be completed.
• Any plan to install solar equipment upon a power-line right-of-way easement assigned to the cooperative would be prohibited. Neither project approval nor the interconnection process would go forward until the proposed site of the equipment could be relocated. The relocation site would need to be situated on ground that rests totally beyond the boundaries of any said right-of-way strip.
• Note that 20kW is the limit for residential by South Carolina legislature.

Application Information

Interconnection Application Agreement

Solar Application Fees

Residential Fee: $150.00
Non-Residential Fee: $250.00
Note: In the memo area of the check, please include the address of the member applying for interconnection. (Example: 123 Solar Dr, Bamberg, SC 29003)

Solar Rates

Edisto’s Value of Solar is 4.329 Cents/kWh. Members will receive a credit on their bill each month for excess energy that is reversed through the revenue meter.

Sample Billing for a Solar Member

1. When (if ever) does the utility require an AC Disconnect?
Always.

2. When (if ever) does the utility require a PV Production Meter?
Never. The PV system must be on the load side of the member’s existing revenue meter.

3. Does the utility allow line-side taps (compliant with the NEC)?
Line-side taps are allowed, but they shall not be installed in the meter base. We would prefer that you connect the PV system behind a breaker in the member’s breaker panel when possible.

4. Will the utility replace the homeowner’s existing utility meter with a bi-directional meter?
No. The existing meter is a bi-directional meter. We will change the billing rate after installation and all approvals.

5. Are there specific warning labels or placards the utility requires to be included in solar plan sets (to be included at installation)?
The only label that is specifically referenced in Edisto’s Interconnection Agreement is the Emergency Disconnect Switch. The EDS must be labeled accordingly. Most solar companies place stickers or markers on the meter base.

6. What can I expect my bill to be after installing solar?
The average homeowner that installs solar reduced their 12-month average bill by 20% to 40%. This is a wide range and it depends greatly on when the homeowner uses electricity, the size of the system, whether they installed batteries, etc. The important thing to note is that you will still have a bill from Edisto Electric each month. See our savings calculator for a detailed breakdown of how you can save money by using solar energy.

7. Will solar panels still provide power to my home during power outage?
Solar panels alone will not provide electricity to your home if Edisto Electric is experiencing an outage in your area. The inverter needs to be connected to a power source to operate. There are systems in which a homeowner can install batteries and power certain loads in the home during an outage though. However, batteries usually will not run large loads such as HVAC units, stoves, water heaters, etc.

8. Will batteries run my entire home, and if so, then how long?
Most battery applications are not designed to run an entire home as you normally would. Batteries installed in conjunction with solar panels should be viewed as backup power for essential loads such as refrigerators, freezers, lights, etc. Batteries may be able to power larger loads such as a water pump/well, but this should be looked at on a case by case basis.