Greenville, NC Solar Panels

North Carolina’s Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion is a state tax benefit that significantly reduces property taxes on solar panel systems. When you install a solar energy system on your property, this incentive excludes 80% of the system’s appraised value from your property tax assessment. This means you only pay property taxes on 20% of your solar system’s value, resulting in substantial annual tax savings.

To qualify for this exclusion, your solar system must be considered taxable business personal property. This typically applies if you claim depreciation on the system on your tax returns or if you receive income payments from your utility company for electricity production. However, if you only participate in net metering (receiving credits rather than cash payments) and don’t claim business depreciation, your system may be classified as non-business personal property and be completely exempt from property taxes. Your county assessor will determine your system’s classification based on documentation like tax returns, utility agreements, and equipment receipts. There are no specific deadlines mentioned for this ongoing benefit, but proper documentation is essential to ensure you receive the appropriate tax treatment.

Solar for All (EnergizeNC) is a state program that received $156 million in federal funding from the EPA to help North Carolina families access affordable solar energy. The program specifically focuses on bringing rooftop solar systems to low-income households and disadvantaged communities across the state, including tribal lands. This initiative aims to reduce energy costs for families while supporting clean energy adoption statewide.

While specific dollar amounts for individual homeowners aren’t detailed in the announcement, the program is designed to make solar accessible to households where energy costs represent a significant portion of their budget. The initiative will combine solar installations with existing energy efficiency programs to maximize long-term savings. Eligibility appears to prioritize low-income and moderate-income households, particularly those in disadvantaged communities, though complete eligibility requirements haven’t been fully outlined yet.

The program is still in development, with the coalition working to establish comprehensive deployment plans and community partnerships. Homeowners interested in this opportunity should visit www.energizeNC.org to stay updated on program launch details, application processes, and specific eligibility criteria. The program will also focus on workforce development and community engagement to ensure benefits reach the intended communities effectively.

Duke Energy’s PowerPair program is a pilot incentive that helps North Carolina homeowners reduce the upfront cost of installing solar panels paired with battery storage systems. This utility program offers a one-time cash incentive of up to $9,000 to customers who install qualifying solar-plus-battery systems in Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress service areas. The exact incentive amount depends on the type of solar array and battery system you choose to install.

To participate, you must use a Duke Energy Trade Ally installer and apply through a random selection process that opens on May 10th with a four-week application window. Participants have two enrollment options: the residential solar choice rider (RSC) or the net metering bridge rider (NMB). If you choose the NMB option, you’ll be required to enroll in Duke Energy’s Power Manager and EnergyWise Home Battery Control programs, which provide additional monthly bill credits in exchange for allowing Duke Energy to temporarily use your stored battery power during peak demand periods (30-36 times per year). You can opt out of up to four events annually and still receive the monthly credits. Your battery system must have internet connectivity to participate in these demand response programs.

The Net Metering Bridge Rider (NMB) is a transitional solar compensation program offered by Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolina in North Carolina. This program replaced the previous 1-to-1 net metering system and allows homeowners with solar panels to receive credits for excess electricity they send back to the grid. Under NMB, you’ll receive full retail rate credit for solar energy you use directly in your home, but any excess energy exported to the grid each month is credited at a reduced rate of 3.4 cents per kWh.

The financial benefits vary by utility company. Duke Energy Progress customers pay a $28 minimum monthly charge plus $0.62 per kW DC of solar capacity per month, while Duke Energy Carolina customers pay a $22 minimum monthly charge plus $0.28 per kW DC per month. Credits are settled monthly, meaning any unused credits don’t roll over to the next month. To be eligible, you must have submitted your solar interconnection application starting October 1, 2023, and the program continues until the annual capacity limit is reached. Once that limit is met, new customers will transition to the Residential Solar Choice program, which requires time-of-use pricing. Homeowners who had existing 1-to-1 net metering agreements before October 1, 2023, can keep those terms until January 1, 2027.