Last DSIRE Review: 05/25/2012
Program Overview:
| State: |
South Carolina |
| Incentive Type: |
Net Metering |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Small Hydroelectric |
| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Tribal Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional |
| Applicable Utilities: | Duke Energy |
| System Capacity Limit: | 100 kW for non-residential; 20 kW for residential |
| Aggregate Capacity Limit: | 0.2% of utility's SC jurisdictional retail peak demand for previous calendar year |
| Net Excess Generation: | Credited to customer's next bill at applicable time-of-use rate or less; granted to utility annually on June 1 |
| REC Ownership: | Customer owns RECs until REC market emerges, at which point utilities own RECs |
| Meter Aggregation: | Not addressed |
| Web Site: |
http://www.duke-energy.com/generate-your-own-power/sc-rate-option...
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Summary:
In May 2008, the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a vague directive that required investor-owned electric utilities to offer net metering to its customers beginning July 1, 2008. As a result of this directive, Duke Energy offered its South Carolina customers the option to net meter either on a time-of-use (TOU) tariff or a flat-rate tariff.
In August 2009, the South Carolina Public Service Commission issued a directive approving the recent net metering settlement signed by the individual intervenors, the Office of Regulatory Staff and the three investor-owned utilities (IOUs). This settlement agreement improved the terms of net metering in South Carolina and standardized the structure of net metering programs offered by the IOUs. Utilities filed revised tariffs within 60 days of this directive.
Net excess generation (NEG) is credited to the customer's next bill at the utility's retail rate, and then surrendered to the utility annually at the beginning of each summer season on June. Net-metered customers' on-peak generation (under the TOU tariff) may be used to offset off-peak consumption, but not vice versa. Significantly, these tariffs involve additional charges that do not apply to customers who do not net meter. Duke Energy requires net-metered customers to switch to a TOU tariff (which incorporates potentially high demand charges into its fee structure) or charges customers additional monthly fees, including stand-by charges.
Systems must comply with the South Carolina Standard for Interconnecting Small Generation 100 kW or less with Electric Power Systems (EPS). For more information, see the utility's program web site.
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