SC electric companies rolling out incentives for solar power

South Carolina electric utilities are going to offer incentives for customers who install solar power.

That investor-owned electric companies are planning the incentives as required by an alternative energy bill approved by state lawmakers last year.

SCE&G plans to offer small incentives that would be paid for 10 years to those installing solar power after next Jan. 1, The (Charleston) Post and Courier reports. Duke Energy and Duke Progress Energy customers would receive a one-time incentive worth thousands of dollars for those installing solar.

The proposals still need state approval.

They would be in addition to state and federal tax credits that essentially rebate more than half the cost of installing solar panels. In addition, utilities generally buy excess back solar power from customers at retail rates.