South Carolina Energy Office

What South Carolina Energy Office does

The South Carolina Energy Office is a state government agency established in 1992 under the South Carolina Energy Efficiency Act (Section 48-52-410) and operating as a department within the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. It serves as the state's statutory principal energy planning entity and central clearinghouse for energy information, delivering technical assistance (via the Energy Technical Assistance Program), financial assistance (ConserFund low-interest loans and Mini-Grants), K-12 energy education curricula (over 130 guides via the NEED Project), alternative-fuels coordination (Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition, a DOE Clean Cities program since 2003), and the State Energy Plan.

Its technology stack is modest and policy-oriented rather than commercial: an ArcGIS-based Energy Data Dashboard tracking renewable energy deployment and state-agency energy use reporting, an Energy Saver Tool (EnergySaver.SC.GOV) that matches consumers to programs via questionnaire or category search with PDF/Excel export, and a consumer-facing Solar.SC.GOV portal covering solar adoption and consumer protections. The Energy Office is funded primarily through the US Department of Energy's State Energy Program (SEP) formula grant and state appropriations, with new federal pass-through funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (HOMES and HEAR rebate programs launching 2026) and IIJA Section 40101(d) Grid Resilience funding.

It serves a captive, statute-defined market: state agencies, local governments (City of Greenville, City of Myrtle Beach, Town of Saluda, City of Darlington), 86 of SC's public school districts, higher education institutions (Medical University of South Carolina, The Citadel), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, healthcare providers (Williamsburg Regional Hospital), and South Carolina households. Services are provided free of charge or at subsidized rates, with no commercial pricing model.

Name

South Carolina Energy Office

Legal name

South Carolina Energy Office

Website

https://energy.sc.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The South Carolina Energy Office is a state government agency within the SC Office of Regulatory Staff that serves as the state's principal energy planning entity, delivering technical assistance, ConserFund loans, mini-grants, energy education, and data resources to public agencies, schools, nonprofits, residents, and fleet operators statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. US Department of Energy State Energy Program (SEP) Funding: Formula grant funding from the US Department of Energy's State Energy Program that provides funding and technical assistance to states to enhance energy security and maximize benefits of decreasing energy waste.
2. State Government Appropriations: State-funded department within the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, established under Section 48-52-410 of South Carolina law.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The South Carolina Energy Office serves as the state's principal energy planning entity, providing technical assistance, financial assistance (low-interest ConserFund loans and Mini-Grants), energy education and outreach, energy data resources, and the State Energy Plan. It supports public entities, nonprofits, schools, and residents through programs such as ETAP, the Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition, and online tools like EnergySaver.SC.GOV and Solar.SC.GOV.

Product overview

The South Carolina Energy Office operates as a centralized hub providing energy-related programs, resources, and tools for residents, businesses, and public entities across South Carolina. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected services centered around its web-based tools (Energy Saver Tool, Solar.SC.GOV) and direct assistance programs (ETAP technical assistance, ConserFund loans, Mini-Grants). The Energy Office also administers the Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition for alternative transportation fuels, delivers educational resources including lesson plans and training, and is implementing new federal IRA-funded Home Energy Rebate Programs (HOMES and HEAR) launching in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition: An initiative of the Energy Office that works to increase the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in South Carolina. Part of the Clean Cities program.
• Association of South Carolina Energy Managers (ASCEM)
• Energy Saver Tool
• Solar.SC.GOV

Products and services

• Energy Technical Assistance Program (ETAP) A program that helps public and non-profit organizations identify ways to reduce energy use and fund those improvements through energy assessments, utility bill analysis, walk-through assessments, and funding advisement.
• ConserFund Loan Program Low-interest loan program for public and non-profit organizations to fund energy efficiency improvements.
• Mini-Grants Program Grant program providing funding for high-impact demonstration projects in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition (PCF) An initiative of the Energy Office that works to increase the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies in South Carolina. Part of the DOE Clean Cities program.
• Home Energy Rebate Programs (HOMES and HEAR) Federal Inflation Reduction Act-funded programs providing rebates for home energy efficiency improvements (HOMES, $2,000 to $16,000 per household) and home electrification/appliance upgrades (HEAR, up to $14,000) for South Carolina households, administered through approved contractors.
• Energy Data Dashboard An ArcGIS-based platform providing energy data for South Carolina, tracking renewable energy deployment and utility information.
• Energy Lesson Plans Ten free energy lesson plans for South Carolina teachers aligned with state science standards, covering topics including renewables, energy conservation, green buildings, energy sources, and transportation.

Quantifiable outcome

• General Services replaced a 750-ton chiller with ConserFund loan, saving over $100,000 each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Published 'The Role of a Green Bank in South Carolina: A Market & Feasibility Assessment' through USC in 2022 as part of accessible financing recommendations.
• Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Facilitated the South Carolina Energy Efficiency Roadmap Initiative launched in October 2019, which reviewed 24 energy efficiency recommendations from the 2016 State Energy Plan.
• US Department of Energy (DOE) - State Energy Program (SEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Energy Office is funded through DOE's State Energy Program formula grant. SEP provides funding and technical assistance to enhance energy security and maximize benefits of decreasing energy waste. Every state and territory has an Energy Office funded through SEP.
• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASEO is the only national non-profit association for energy officials from all 56 states and territories. Formed by states in 1986, NASEO facilitates peer learning and serves as a resource for state energy offices.
• South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Energy Office is a department within ORS. ORS represents consumers of investor-owned utilities before the Public Service Commission and is one of seven departments in ORS including Administration, Audit, Broadband, Information Services, Legal, and Utility Rates.
• US Department of Energy Clean Cities and CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Palmetto Clean Fuels Coalition is part of the Clean Cities program, one of nearly 100 designated coalitions in the US. DOE approved PCF's designation in 2003 as a statewide coalition building an alternative fuels market.
• National Energy Education Development (NEED) ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEED Project offers over 130 curriculum guides for teachers and students tied to state and national standards. Materials are free to classroom teachers. The Energy Office connects educators with NEED resources.
• South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SCDOT to install alternative fuel corridor signs along major interstates in South Carolina in June 2017.
• Clemson University Restoration InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClemson received DOE grant to build a large-scale wind turbine drive train testing facility. The public-private partnership led to the facility dedication in 2013 with 7.5 MW and 15 MW test beds.
• E4 Carolinas / Southeast Hydrogen Energy AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with E4 Carolinas to advance the Southeast Hydrogen Energy Alliance, striving to commercialize hydrogen and related technologies in the Southeastern US.
• Take Action SCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Energy Office is a participating partner in Take Action SC, providing educational resources to environmental educators on energy efficiency, recycling, and litter prevention.
• University of North Carolina CharlotteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNC Charlotte received a DOE grant to house an Industrial Assessment Center providing FREE energy assessments to small and medium-sized industrial facilities within 150 miles.
• Duke EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner for Home Energy Rebate programs. Duke Energy offers existing home improvement programs that residents can use while rebate programs are being developed.
• Dominion Energy South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner for Home Energy Rebate programs. Dominion Energy offers existing energy savings programs for South Carolina customers.
• Santee CooperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtility partner offering EmpowerHome program for residential customers. Also serving as state entity to administer Grid Resilience Grant Program under IIJA Section 40101(d).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scenergyoffice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SCEnergyOffice
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCEnergyOffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-carolina-energy-office

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Carolina Energy Office