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Energy Incentive Programs, South Carolina

Updated November 2009

Below you will find questions and answers regarding South Carolina's utility energy efficiency programs, including options for load management, demand response, and distributed energy resources, and information about state-sponsored energy efficiency programs.

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What public purpose-funded energy efficiency programs are available in my state?

South Carolina has no public-purpose-funded energy efficiency programs.

What utility energy efficiency programs are available to me?

Duke Energy's Smart $aver® Incentives program offers prescriptive rebates for a wide variety of energy-efficient electrical equipment ranging from commercial cooking equipment to lighting to electric chillers.

Progress Energy offers its Energy Efficiency for Business program for both retrofit and new construction applications. Prescriptive rebates cover lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, and motors and drives. The program includes a custom option for non-covered equipment and whole building measures in which remuneration is based on first-year kWh saved. In addition, incentives are available for energy-efficient design and building simulation modeling. Feasibility studies are subsidized at up to 50% of cost. Pre-approval applications are required for some elements of the program and encouraged for all.

What load management/demand response options are available to me?

Duke Energy offers large commercial customers its On-Site Generation Service Program (PDF 44 KB), which targets customers that do not currently own back-up generation but would like to. Duke installs, owns, and operates new generators (300 kW or larger) for participants willing to let the company use them in times of grid stress or high wholesale prices. There is a monthly service fee for this rate based on the levelized cost to own and operate the equipment.

Real time pricing is available to Duke Energy's large customers through its SC Hourly Pricing for Incremental Load (PDF 69 KB) rate schedule. Customers are notified of the hourly energy prices for the following day. Participants are alternately credited or charged, based on the hourly price, for usage below or above a pre-determined customer baseline load profile.

Progress Energy provides a real-time pricing tariff (PDF 53 KB) to large customers (1,000 kW). Participants are notified of energy prices a day in advance and are charged or credited at these rates for any usage above or below a customer baseline load (CBL) that is based on their historical use.

Progress also offers two curtailable riders for customers that can shed load upon request. These rate riders offer favorable terms for general-use electricity in exchange for dedicated load that can be reduced at the company's request.

What distributed energy resource options are available to me?

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) provides information on programs that offer incentives for renewable distributed generation. The following programs may be of interest to Federal customers.

  • The Biomass Energy Production Incentive (PDF 140 KB) provides a $0.01/kWh state tax credit, up to $100,000 per year, to generators of electricity from biomass (including landfill gas and biodigester). The Federal Government is not a tax payer, but Federal facilities whose on-site plants are developed and owned by private contractors may be able to benefit from this program.

  • The Renewable Energy Grant Program, administered by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and others, offers up to $200,000 for 50% matched demonstration projects using biomass.

  • Progress Energy's Sunsense program offers $0.18/kWh for 20 years for the electrical output from photovoltaic systems of 10 to 250 kW (DC) and $0.02 per avoided kWh for 10 years for the thermal output of solar water heating systems. Purchases include the renewable energy certificates, which are used as credit towards the state's renewable portfolio standard.

Are there energy efficiency programs sponsored by state government?

The South Carolina Energy Office offers a variety of energy efficiency programs, but none are currently available to Federal facilities.

What additional opportunities are available to me?

Federal customers whose utilities have areawide supply contracts through the General Services Administration (GSA) (e.g., Duke, Progress and South Carolina Electric & Gas) may be able to take advantage of third-party financed energy efficiency projects called utility energy service contracts (UESCs). Information is available through the GSA Energy Center of Expertise Library. Federal facilities should contact their account executive to determine the level of each utility's participation.

NOTE: Energy efficiency funds and demand response programs are updated at least annually. Please contact the FEMP webmaster if changes are needed between updates.