Just when you thought electric rates may fall, here comes another setback.

If you hoped solar power on your home or business would save much on electricity, forget it.

Duke Energy has reached a legal solar energy expansion limit and SC Electric & Gas is expected to soon.

This means that if you put solar on your roof after this month, you probably will be paid less for the power your panels produce.

By law, solar payments lower bills to encourage home and business owners to install panels. Before the limit is reached, many owners can recover their investment in an estimated 5 to 6 years.

SCE&G and Duke lobbyists convinced lawmakers not to expand solar power rebates more than a 2% cap on a utility’s peak power use.

That means new solar installers won’t get the best rates for power they provide.

The solar industry opposed ending favorable rates under a 2014 state law.

The Palmetto Conservative Solar Coalition expects installer jobs to be lost if the cap is not raised to pay better rates to home and business owners. Less favorable rates are expected to lower demand for solar.

Solar installer jobs are expected to be lost to North Carolina, Florida and other states with pro-solar laws.