Asheville, NC Solar Panels

North Carolina’s Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion helps homeowners save money on their annual property taxes when they install a solar panel system. In most counties, adding solar panels would increase your home’s assessed value and raise your property taxes. This state program excludes 80% of your solar system’s appraised value from property taxation, significantly reducing the tax impact of going solar.

Here’s how it works: If your solar system is valued at $20,000, only $4,000 (20%) would be added to your home’s taxable value instead of the full amount. This means you’ll pay property taxes on just a fraction of your system’s worth, resulting in ongoing annual savings for as long as you own the system.

To qualify for this exclusion, your solar system must be classified as non-business personal property. For most homeowners, this means you’re using the system solely to offset your own electricity usage through a net metering arrangement with your utility company (where you receive credits on your electric bill rather than income payments). If you claim depreciation on your federal tax return or receive taxable income from selling electricity, your system would be considered business property and wouldn’t qualify for this exclusion—though it would still receive the 80% exclusion under different rules.

There are no application deadlines or time limitations for this benefit. The exclusion applies automatically each year as long as your system qualifies. Your county tax assessor determines eligibility, and you may need to provide documentation such as your utility net metering agreement to confirm your system’s non-business use.

Solar for All (EnergizeNC) is a $156 million state program designed to help North Carolina households—especially those with low to moderate incomes—install rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems. Led by the NC Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office in partnership with Advanced Energy, the NC Clean Energy Technology Center, and the NC Clean Energy Fund, this program aims to make solar energy accessible to families who typically face barriers to adoption. The initiative focuses on reducing energy costs for households where utility bills take up a significant portion of their monthly budget.

The program provides financial assistance to cover the costs of solar panel installation for eligible low-income homeowners across North Carolina, including residents on state- and federally recognized Tribal lands. While specific dollar amounts per household have not yet been announced, the program is designed to deliver meaningful savings on electricity bills through no-cost or low-cost solar installations. EnergizeNC will coordinate with existing energy efficiency programs to maximize long-term affordability and ensure quality installations that perform reliably over time.

Eligibility is primarily based on income level, with priority given to low-income and disadvantaged communities throughout the state. The program is currently in development, and specific application requirements and processes will be announced as implementation details are finalized. Homeowners interested in participating should visit www.energizeNC.org to sign up for updates and learn when applications will open. This is a multi-year initiative funded through the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, so opportunities will continue to become available as the program rolls out statewide.

Duke Energy’s PowerPair pilot program offers North Carolina homeowners a one-time incentive of up to $9,000 to help cover the cost of installing a solar panel system paired with battery storage. This program is designed to make home solar plus battery systems more affordable while helping Duke Energy manage the grid more effectively. The exact incentive amount depends on the type of solar array and battery system you install.

To participate, you must be a Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress customer in North Carolina and work with a Duke Energy-approved Trade Ally installer. You’ll need to choose between two enrollment options: the Residential Solar Choice rider (RSC) or the Net Metering Bridge rider (NMB). If you select the NMB option, you’re required to enroll in Duke Energy’s Power Manager or EnergyWise Home Battery Control program, which provides additional monthly bill credits. Through these programs, Duke Energy can temporarily access your battery’s stored electricity to support the grid 30-36 times per year, though you can opt out of up to four events annually.

The application process uses a random selection system that opens on May 10, with a four-week window to apply through Duke Energy’s website. Not all solar and battery systems qualify for this program, so you’ll want to check the approved equipment list at duke-energy.com/PowerPair before making your purchase decision. This is a pilot program with limited availability, so early application is recommended.

The Net Metering Bridge Rider (NMB) is a transitional solar compensation program available to Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolina customers in North Carolina. Starting October 1, 2023, this program replaced the previous 1-to-1 net metering option for new solar customers. Under NMB, your solar system offsets your electricity use in real-time during the day, and any excess energy you send to the grid is credited to your account at a reduced rate of $0.034 per kilowatt-hour (3.4 cents/kWh). These credits are applied monthly and do not carry forward to future billing periods.

To participate in NMB, you must submit your interconnection application during the enrollment period before the annual capacity limit is reached. Duke Energy Progress customers will pay a minimum monthly charge of $28 plus $0.62 per kilowatt (DC) of system capacity each month. Duke Energy Carolina customers will pay a $22 minimum monthly charge plus $0.28 per kilowatt (DC) of system capacity monthly. Once the annual capacity for NMB is filled, new solar customers will need to enroll in the Residential Solar Choice (RSC) program instead, which requires participation in a Time of Use rate plan with Critical Peak Pricing. If you had solar installed before October 1, 2023 under the previous 1-to-1 net metering program, you’ll remain on that program until January 1, 2027.