Electricity Laws and Incentives in South Carolina
The list below contains summaries of all South Carolina laws and incentives related to electricity.
State Incentives
Alternative Fuel Project Grants
The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff-Energy Office (Energy Office) offers grants of up to $10,000 for alternative fuel demonstration projects. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, public colleges and universities, K-12 public schools, and non-profit organizations. For more information, including how to apply, see the Energy Office’s Loans, Grants & Tax Incentives website.
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Revolving Loan Program for Private Entities
The South Carolina Business Development Corporation provides low interest loans for a variety of energy efficiency improvements, including AFV conversions and incremental costs, with qualified project payback periods. Eligible recipients include businesses and industries. Utilities, non-profit organizations, and government entities may be eligible under special conditions. The loan may cover up to 100% of the project costs, ranging from $50,000 to $1 million. Repayment terms vary. For more information, including application deadlines, see the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan website.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 48-52-650)
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Revolving Loan Program for Public Entities
The South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) provides low interest loans for a variety of energy efficiency improvements, including AFV conversions and the incremental costs of a new AFV, with qualified project payback periods. Loans may cover up to 100% of project costs, ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 per state fiscal year. Eligible recipients include state agencies, local governments, public colleges and universities, school districts, and private non-profit organizations. State agencies and public educational institutions may combine their loan with a ConserFund Plus grant, which may cover up to 30% of total project costs. For more information, see the ConserFund website.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 48-52-650)
Diesel Emissions Reduction Grants
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) provides U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) funding for projects that reduce diesel emissions in South Carolina. Funding for eligible project costs is available to universities, private organizations, businesses, and local government entities that reduce diesel emissions by retrofitting engines, installing idle reduction technologies, or replacing vehicles and equipment. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, including funding amounts and how to apply, see the SCDHEC DERA Grants website.
South Carolina's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) to submit an annual EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. The submitted plans must be established according to NEVI guidance.
For more information about South Carolina’s NEVI planning process, see the SCDOT Electric Vehicle Charging Plan website. To review South Carolina’s NEVI plan, see the Joint Office State Plans for EV Charging website.
Laws and Regulations
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fee
Owners of plug-in electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles must pay a biennial fee of $120, in addition to standard registration fees. Hybrid electric vehicle owners must pay a biennial fee of $60.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 56-3-645 and 12-28-110(39))
Electric Transportation Impact Studies
The Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation (Committee) must study the challenges and opportunities associated with transportation electrification and make recommendations to the General Assembly. The Committee must investigate the following areas:
- The environmental, economic, and customer challenges associated with electric vehicles (EVs);
- The potential value of advancing the development and deployment of EVs and associated infrastructure; and,
- The impacts of EVs on current infrastructure, customers, utilities, and electricity grid.
The South Carolina Department of Revenue must provide an annual report to the Committee on the prior fiscal year’s revenue collection for the repair, maintenance, or improvements to the South Carolina transportation system.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 58-27-260)
Electric Transportation Stakeholder Group
The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) must engage stakeholders to explore opportunities to advance transportation electrification and identify potential challenges. Regulatory staff must work with private and public sector stakeholders to examine the legislative and regulatory environmental, economic, and customer challenges and opportunities. ORS must submit a report on opportunities to advance transportation electrification to the Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation on a bi-annual basis.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 58-27-270)
Electric Vehicle (EV) Cost Recovery
A public electric utility may seek recovery of the costs associated with programs and resources related to distributed energy resources and load management technologies, including EV charging, as part of a rate case filing through the South Carolina Public Service Commission.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 58-39-120 and 58-39-130)
Electric Vehicle (EV) Deployment Support
The South Carolina Department of Commerce (Department of Commerce) established the South Carolina EV Economic Development Initiative (Initiative) to support the EV industry in South Carolina. The Initiative must create and implement a strategic approach to identify, encourage, and incentivize EV research, development, and production in South Carolina. The Initiative must also collaborate with the Interagency EV Working Group to develop a comprehensive statewide EV deployment plan.For more information, see the Department of Commerce’s SCpowersEV website.
(Reference Executive Order No. 2022-31)
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Deployment Support
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) must convene an Interagency EV Working Group (Working Group) to develop a comprehensive plan for the deployment of EV-related resources and infrastructure. The plan must provide recommendations for the deployment of EV charging infrastructure, prioritizing locations along the interstate highway system and in rural areas. The Working Group must also identify funding streams and evaluate potential implementation methods.
(Reference Executive Order 2022-31)
Public Utility Definition
An entity that operates an electric vehicle (EV) charging station is not considered a public utility. Electricity must be procured from authorized electric utility, and the EV charging stations must be immobile.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 58-27-1060)
State Agency Preference for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Vehicles
State agencies purchasing motor vehicles must give preference to hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric, biodiesel, hydrogen, fuel cell, or flexible fuel vehicles when the performance, quality, and anticipated life cycle costs are comparable to other available motor vehicles.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 1-11-310)
Transportation Electrification Utility Impact Study
No earlier than April 1, 2023, the Public Service Commission (PSC) must open a docket for the purpose of identifying the regulatory challenges and opportunities associated with transportation electrification, including:
- Grid integration and modernization efforts;
- Regulatory policies to support efficient and cost-effective transportation electrification;
- Data management and coordination;
- Grid investments to support electric vehicle (EV) deployment;
- Increased EV adoption and the development of their charging infrastructure; and,
- Rate design and load management strategies.
The PSC must also submit reports on a triennial basis to the Joint Committee on the Electrification of Transportation on regulatory issues related to transportation electrification.
(Reference South Carolina Code of Laws 58-27-265 and South Carolina PSC Docket No. 2023-121-E)
Utility / Private Incentives
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Incentive – Duke Energy
Duke Energy offers to install and maintain direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations across Duke Energy’s service territory at no cost to site hosts until 2026. DCFC stations will be installed at a maximum of 30 locations and site host applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible sites must be located within one mile of a major interstate or highway and the DCFC stations must be publicly accessible. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information, see the Duke Energy Host an EV Fast Charger website.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Support
South Carolina utilities joined the National Electric Highway Coalition (NEHC), committing to create a network of direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific of the United States. NEHC utility members agree to ensure efficient and effective fast charging deployment plans that enable long distance EV travel, avoiding duplication among coalition utilities, and complement existing corridor DCFC sites. For more information, including a list of participating utilities and states, see the NEHC website.
Residential Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Rebate - Santee Cooper
Santee Cooper offers residential customers a rebate of up to $250 for the purchase of a qualified Level 2 EV charging station. For more information, see the Santee Cooper EVs website.
More Laws and Incentives
To find laws and incentives for other alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, search all laws and incentives.