South Carolina To Allow Net Metering Of Solar Power

GREER, S.C., Aug 11, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Solar energy has just become more cost effective in South Carolina as a result of a recent Public Service Commission order. Starting July 1, solar customers are now able to use net metering to offset their energy costs like customers in nearly all 50 states.

"This is significant for South Carolina. With rising energy costs, net metering can further reduce solar customers' energy bills by up to 30 percent," says Bruce Wood, founder and CEO of Sunstore Solar, the largest solar installation company in South Carolina. "With this kind of savings we are forecasting a rise in business as people learn more about solar and the benefits of net metering."

Net metering allows homeowners to "bank" power generated by their solar systems. For example, excess power generated by a system during the day can now be captured and credited to their account for use at a later date. Without net metering, this energy was lost unless a customer had a back-up battery system.

According to John Clark, director of the South Carolina Energy Office, the state spends about $18 billion on energy annually. "The problem is most of that amount goes out of state. Renewables let us keep more revenue here, so we're very pleased that the state's investor-owned utilities have made it easier for their customers to use clean, renewable energy," he said.

This new Public Service Commission ruling applies to all investor-owned utilities including Duke Energy, Progress Energy and South Carolina Electric and Gas. Rates and explanations are now published on company websites.

For links to all three net metering sites, see the South Carolina Energy Office's website, www.energy.sc.gov and click on Renewables/Net metering. The PSC order also requires that the utility companies have trained and knowledgeable customer service personnel available to assist customers.

The public service commission began hearings on net metering back in 2005. Now, all but seven states have a net metering program in place.

Sunstore Solar, the largest solar company in South Carolina, has installed 60 solar systems in the last three years, totaling 75 percent of all systems registered with the South Carolina Energy Office. Recently, the company has been involved in such high profile green projects as the Southern Living Showcase Home at Furman University (Cliffs Cottage), and the HGTV Green Home, the first LEED certified home in South Carolina.