Winston-Salem, 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 energy system. When you add solar panels to your home, they typically increase your property’s value. Normally, this would mean higher property taxes. However, this state program excludes 80% of your solar system’s appraised value from property taxation, significantly reducing the tax impact of your investment.

To qualify for this exclusion, your solar system must be classified as business personal property. This typically applies if you’re selling electricity back to the grid and reporting that income, or if you’re claiming depreciation on the system as a business expense. However, if you have a standard net metering arrangement where you simply receive credits on your utility bill (rather than income payments), your system is considered non-business personal property and is already fully exempt from property taxes—meaning you won’t pay any additional property tax on the system’s value.

There are no application deadlines for this ongoing program, as it applies automatically based on how your system is used and owned. Your county tax assessor will determine your eligibility based on documentation such as your utility agreement and how you report the system on your income tax returns. It’s important to understand the distinction between net metering credits (which result in full exemption) and actual income from electricity sales (which makes you eligible for the 80% exclusion). Keep records of your utility arrangements and tax filings to help your county assessor make the correct determination.

Solar for All (EnergizeNC) is a $156 million state program designed to help North Carolina households—especially those with lower 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 installation for eligible low-income and moderate-income households across North Carolina, including 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 energy bills through free or heavily subsidized solar systems. EnergizeNC coordinates with existing low-income 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 its launch phase, and specific application processes and requirements are still being developed. 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, so there will be ongoing opportunities to participate as the program rolls out across different communities.

Duke Energy’s PowerPair pilot program offers North Carolina homeowners a one-time incentive of up to $9,000 to help reduce the cost of installing a solar panel system paired with battery storage. The total incentive amount depends on the specific type of solar array and battery system you install. This program is available to residential customers in both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress service areas throughout North Carolina.

To participate, you’ll need to work with a Duke Energy-approved Trade Ally installer and apply during a four-week application window that opens May 10th. Participants are selected through a random selection process to ensure fair access to the program. You can 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’ll be required to enroll in Duke Energy’s Power Manager or EnergyWise Home Battery Control program, which allows Duke Energy to temporarily access your battery’s stored electricity 30-36 times per year during peak demand periods. In exchange, you’ll receive monthly bill credits on top of the initial incentive. Not all solar and battery systems qualify for this program, so check Duke Energy’s approved equipment list at duke-energy.com/PowerPair before making your purchase decision.

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, you’ll receive full retail credit for the solar energy you use during the month, but any excess energy sent back to the grid is credited at a reduced rate of $0.034 per kilowatt-hour (3.4 cents/kWh) that carries forward to future months.

In addition to the reduced export credit rate, NMB participants pay monthly fees that vary by service territory. Duke Energy Progress customers pay a $28 minimum monthly charge plus $0.62 per kilowatt of DC system capacity each month. Duke Energy Carolina customers pay a $22 minimum monthly charge plus $0.28 per kilowatt of DC system capacity monthly. Credits are settled on a monthly basis with no annual true-up period.

This program is available on a first-come, first-served basis until the annual capacity limit is reached. Once that limit is met, new solar customers will transition to the Residential Solar Choice (RSC) program, which requires enrollment in a Time of Use rate with Critical Peak Pricing. Existing customers who installed solar before October 1, 2023 under the previous 1-to-1 net metering program will remain grandfathered until January 1, 2027.