Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) interconnection application

Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) is an electric cooperative serving 119,545 residential customers in South Carolina (EIA-861, 2025). Applications: Own online portal (BEC online interconnection form (FormAssembly via SmartHub, linked from BEC Solar Energy page)). Gridpol files Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) interconnection applications for licensed installers – solar, storage and EV chargers – with single-line diagram and site plan, unlimited for $500 a month.

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Process verified from Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC)’s official sources (see below). Process, fees and documents from BEC Solar Energy page. Not verified: battery/storage rules, BEC 500 kVA interconnection standard details.

Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) at a glance

Utility

Berkeley Electric Coop Inc

Type

Electric cooperative

EIA utility ID

1613

Residential customers

119,545 (EIA-861, 2025)

Net-metered residential customers

1,983 (EIA-861, 2025)

Service territory

3 counties in South Carolina

How to apply

Own online portal – BEC online interconnection form (FormAssembly via SmartHub, linked from BEC Solar Energy page) · official link

Who submits

Member signs the Interconnection Application; BEC notifies the solar company of application status. Contacts: Tameka Palmer tamekap@bec.coop (843) 899-8433.

Export compensation

Net billing – Renewable Generation Surplus Rider
All new installations: surplus kWh credited at $0.0603/kWh; available only on non-demand, non-time-of-day rates (Residential RS, GS <100 kVA). Legacy Net Metering rider: bank reset to zero each June 1.

Review time (official)

BEC reviews for completeness and notifies solar company; typically about two weeks after the building codes release for bi-directional meter installation.

Wholesale supplier / association

Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (SC)

Documents Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) asks for

Interconnection application formInterconnection Application, fully completed, signed and dated (same info also to local Building Inspector's office) Gridpol prepares this.
Customer signatureMember signature
Proof of insuranceHomeowners insurance declaration/policy
Other utility-specific documentSales contract with total price and monthly kWh production estimate
Single-line diagram (one-line)One-line electrical drawing Gridpol prepares this.
Final inspection sign-offCity/county Building & Codes inspection; inspector notifies BEC of release

How the Berkeley Electric Cooperative (BEC) process runs

Optional: BEC evaluation of projected solar value.
Submit online interconnection form (signed application, homeowner insurance, sales contract with production estimate, one-line drawing) and pay $150 fee.
BEC reviews for completeness and notifies solar company of status.
Install - connect in member's breaker panel, never in BEC meter base.
City/county Building & Codes inspection; inspector notifies BEC of release. Leave PV breaker ON and outdoor disconnect OPEN.
BEC metering inspection and bi-directional meter installation (typically ~2 weeks after release); solar company or member notified; energize only after meter is installed.

Fees

Fee	Applies to	Note
$150	All solar interconnection applications (one-time)	Must be paid before application is processed
$50	Field inspection, per inspection
up to $1,000	Unauthorized meter tampering (contractor entering BEC meter base)	Penalty

Utility fees are paid by the installer or customer; they are not part of the Gridpol plan.

Size levels and limits

Level	Up to	Note
Residential (Renewable Surplus Rider)	20 kW	Up to max monthly kW use, <=20 kW AC
Small Commercial (<100 kVA transformer, non-demand)	100 kW
Net metering cap	20 kW

Size limited (wholesale power agreement) to annual kWh / 1,800 for kW AC, or average monthly kWh / 150. Large accounts >100 kVA may self-consume larger systems with no surplus value.

Common issues the utility lists

Application processed only after $150 fee is paid and form is fully completed, signed and dated
Connection inside BEC meter base (up to $1,000 tampering charge)
System sized above usage-based limit

Gridpol’s pre-submission check covers these before we file.

Sources

Berkeley Electric Cooperative - Solar Energy / Step-by-Step Guide: https://berkeleyelectric.coop/renewable-energy (retrieved 2026-11-13)
BEC Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources Up to 500 kVA: https://www.berkeleyelectric.coop/sites/default/files/documents/0421%20Standard%20for%20Interconnecting%20Distributed%20Resources%20Up%20to%20500%20KVA.pdf (retrieved 2026-11-13)

Other utilities in South Carolina

All South Carolina utilities →

Gridpol Unlimited

$500 / month

Unlimited interconnection applications. 12-month agreement, signed online. The agreement starts the day you sign; first invoice right away, then monthly.

Unlimited interconnection applications
Single-line diagram and site plan for every application
Pre-submission check against the utility’s requirements
Homeowner e-signature link for the authorization
Filing in your utility portal accounts or by the utility’s method
Utility questions, corrections and resubmissions
Follow-up through approval, inspection and PTO
Customer list, exports, API and webhooks

Get started

Applications are typically submitted within 2 business days after complete documents. Utility review times are set by each utility.