South Dakota Solar Incentives (Rebates, Tax Credits & More in 2023)

In the chart below, we list all of the available incentives in South Dakota, along with a description of how each works. We also include the average savings you’re likely to see when you take advantage of each of these perks.

What Do South Dakotans Need to Know About the Federal Solar Tax Credit?

The federal solar tax credit is offered to all U.S. taxpayers by the federal government. It reduces your income tax burden by 30% of the total cost of your solar panel system installation. Given the average cost of $25,095 for solar systems in South Dakota, that amounts to a typical credit of $7,529.

This perk has been available since 2005, although it has gone through some changes since then. The original rate schedule called for a 30% credit for systems installed between 2005 and 2021. Installations done in 2022 and 2023 were due for a 26% or 22% credit, respectively, and the credit would be discontinued in 2024.

In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which changed the schedule quite a bit. The changes were as follows:

• Systems installed in 2022 will receive a 30% credit — this retroactively included those systems installed prior to August in 2022
• Systems installed between 2023 and 2032 will also get the full 30% credit
• Systems installed in 2033 will receive a 26% credit
• Systems installed in 2034 will receive a 22% credit
• Systems installed in 2035 and beyond will receive no credit, and the program will be discontinued

How to Claim the Federal ITC in South Dakota

We strongly recommend taking the federal credit, as there is no downside to filing for it. You can follow the steps below to make sure you get access to it.

• Step 1: Complete your solar system installation.

• Step 2: When you’re ready to file your taxes for the year, print out IRS form 5695.

• Step 3: Fill out the form with the size and cost of your system, the contact information for your solar contractor, and information about the location where the panels were installed. The form is just two pages long and shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete.

• Step 4: File the form with your taxes.

If you use tax software to file digitally, you’ll more than likely be asked if you completed any energy efficiency home improvements during the previous tax year. If you answer “yes” and then include information about your solar system, you can avoid having to follow the steps above.

EcoWatch’s Opinion on the Federal ITC in South Dakota

We love the federal credit for solar customers and were overjoyed when the IRA was passed to extend the program. In our opinion, this is the most valuable solar perk available in your area, and we strongly recommend not missing out on it.

It takes just a few minutes to complete the IRS application, but it can still potentially save you an average of over $7,500.

We say “potentially” because this is not a solar rebate, and the savings are not guaranteed. This is a tax credit, which means you’ll see no actual value from it if you don’t owe money on your income taxes.

Thankfully, you don’t need to owe the entire amount the first year your solar system is commissioned. You can carry over unused credit for four additional tax years — a total of five years. Given the typical credit value, you’ll need to owe an average of $1,500 per year for the five years following your conversion to take the full amount.

What You Need to Know About the Renewable Energy Systems Property Tax Exemption in South Dakota

Normally, when you carry out a home improvement project that raises your home value, your assessed value will also increase – and so will your property taxes. Installing solar panels usually bumps up your property value by approximately 4%.¹ That means conversion could, under normal circumstances, make your taxes go up a bit.

Thankfully, the state offers an exemption for solar equipment from property taxes, which means your tax assessor will not consider the value added by your system when calculating your taxes.

Given the average system value of $25,095 and the statewide property tax rate of 1.08%, that’s an estimated annual savings of about $271.² Since your panels should hold value for around 20 years, that’s a maximum lifetime savings of $5,420.

 Your actual savings will be lower as your system depreciates in value, but since calculating depreciation is challenging, this maximum should illustrate the potential of the perk.

How to Claim the Exemption for Property Taxes in South Dakota

The best part about exemption for property taxes for solar equipment is that the savings are applied automatically. You don’t have to spend time or energy filling out applications or paperwork.

Instead, your tax assessor will automatically ignore any value added to your home by your PV equipment. The monthly tax bills you get for your home will reflect the savings right away and will continue to do so until your panels diminish in value.

EcoWatch’s Opinion on the Exemption for Property Taxes in South Dakota

We love to see exemptions for property taxes for solar energy equipment. Not only do they provide decent savings over the lifespan of your system, but they’re also automatic perks that apply with no effort on your part.

Unlike in other states, the local tax exemption is limited to systems up to $50,000 in value. This is an unusual limitation, but it shouldn’t affect many residential solar customers in the state and doesn’t diminish our opinion of the perk in general.

Net Metering in South Dakota

Net energy metering — also just called NEM — is one of the most popular solar incentive programs offered throughout the country. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), it’s also one of the most beneficial perks.³

Net energy metering measures the power you pull from the grid as well as the excess energy your system generates and sends to the grid. The net energy — production minus consumption — gets credited to your utility account to help offset future energy bills.

Net energy metering helps maximize the value and the savings you’ll see from your panels, reducing your effective electricity rates based on your energy production.

Unfortunately, NEM is not mandated by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). However, some electric utility companies do opt to offer net energy metering. You’ll need to contact your electric company to see if you have access to the program.

How to Enroll in Net Metering in South Dakota

If NEM is available to you, chances are your solar contractor will enroll you automatically.. You can follow the steps below to see if net energy metering is open to you and enroll if it is.

• Step 1: Choose a solar installation company. You can ask your installer if a representative will enroll in NEM for you if it’s available. Most companies will agree to do this.

• Step 2: Contact your utility provider and ask about net energy metering. If it’s available, confirm that you have a bidirectional electric meter installed. Since interconnection is mandated in the state, you likely have one already. If you don’t, your provider should install one for free.

• Step 3: Have your solar energy system installed.

• Step 4: Check for accruing energy credits on your first few electric bills to make sure the process is working as intended.

EcoWatch’s Opinion on Net Metering in South Dakota

Net energy metering is an outstanding program that provides several benefits. Among other things, it:

• Maximizes the value and energy savings you see from your panels
• Helps recoup your upfront system costs more quickly
• Reduces the volume of electricity you use from fossil fuels⁴

Net metering is also great because it doesn’t require any action for most solar customers. Even if your solar company doesn’t enroll you automatically, the application process is quick and painless.

The only downside to net metering in South Dakota is that it’s not mandated by the PUC and it’s not likely to be required anytime soon. It’s left up to each individual utility company to decide if they will offer it or not, and many choose not to.

Local Solar Incentives in South Dakota

Unfortunately, local incentives for PV equipment are non-existent.

However, there are some incentives and cash-back perks available for other energy efficiency upgrades – like LED lights, solar water heaters, insulation installation and energy-efficient appliances – from the following companies:

• Beresford Municipal Utilities
• Big Stone City Municipal Utilities
• Black Hills Energy
• Brookings Municipal Utilities
• Burke Municipal Utilities
• City of Faith
• City of Pickstown
• Flandreau Municipal Utilities
• Fort Pierre Municipal Utilities
• Montana-Dakota Utilities
• Otter Tail Power Company
• Pierre Municipal Utilities
• Southeastern Electric Cooperative
• Vermillion Light & Power
• Watertown Municipal Utilities Department
• Winner Municipal Utilities

We recommend contacting your electric company to see if there are benefit programs available for efficiency upgrades. You can also check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for more information on available perks.

Which Tax Incentives Are The Best In South Dakota?

There aren’t many incentives available in South Dakota, which means taking advantage of everything that’s available is crucial. As such, we suggest applying for the federal credit and taking advantage of the exemption for property taxes and net energy metering if it’s available.

Applying for the federal credit is a must, simply because there are so few other perks available to help make solar more affordable. Plus, this perk requires so little time and energy to apply for, making the average credit value of $7,529 well worth the effort.

The tax exemption for property taxes is another great perk that provides long-term savings and reduces the financial burden of adopting solar power. This incentive should be considered a must as well, especially since you don’t have to apply for it.

Finally, we strongly suggest enrolling in net energy metering if you have the option. This perk helps maximize your long-term energy savings and increase the value of your solar energy system overall. If the program is available to you, enrolling is a breeze, and your installer will likely complete the process for you.

What’s The Near Term Outlook For More Incentives In South Dakota?

There are no pieces of legislation in the works that will increase solar perks in the state in the near future. It’s unlikely that there will be new perks popping up in the coming years.

That could change if a new renewable energy goal is set. Usually, a progressive goal will trigger local utility companies and government agencies to offer more incentives to increase the use of renewable energy.

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