Winston-Salem, NC

The North Carolina Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion offers homeowners significant tax savings on their solar investments. This state incentive excludes 80% of the appraised value of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems from property tax assessments, substantially reducing the property tax burden associated with installing solar panels.

Eligibility depends on how you use your solar system. If you’re using solar purely for personal use with net metering (receiving credits from your utility company rather than cash payments), your system qualifies as non-business personal property and is completely exempt from property taxation. However, if you claim depreciation expenses on your tax returns or receive direct income from selling electricity to utilities, your system is considered business personal property and will receive the 80% exclusion rather than full exemption. This incentive has no expiration date and applies automatically when your property is assessed, making it a valuable long-term benefit for North Carolina solar homeowners.

The Solar for All (EnergizeNC) program is a state initiative in North Carolina that helps homeowners, particularly those in low-income and disadvantaged communities, install rooftop solar systems. Funded by a $156 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, this program aims to make clean energy more accessible while reducing utility costs for North Carolina residents.

The program specifically targets low and moderate-income households, including those in state and federally recognized Tribal lands. While specific dollar amounts of savings per household aren’t detailed, the program’s primary goal is to significantly lower energy costs for participants. The EnergizeNC coalition, led by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office, will coordinate this effort alongside existing energy efficiency programs to maximize long-term affordability. Homeowners interested in learning more about eligibility requirements and application timelines should visit www.energizeNC.org to sign up for updates as the program develops.

Duke Energy’s PowerPair program offers North Carolina homeowners a significant financial incentive for pairing solar panel installations with battery storage systems. Participants can receive a one-time incentive of up to $9,000, with the exact amount depending on the type of solar array and battery installed. This program helps make home solar plus battery systems more affordable while supporting North Carolina’s clean energy goals.

To qualify, homeowners must live in Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress service areas in North Carolina and must use a Duke Energy-approved Trade Ally installer. Participants can enroll through either a residential solar choice rider (RSC) or a net metering bridge rider (NMB), with NMB customers required to also enroll in Duke Energy’s battery control option. The initial application window opens May 10, 2024, and will remain open for four weeks, with participants selected through a random selection process to ensure incentive equity. Homeowners can sign up for program updates and view eligible equipment at duke-energy.com/PowerPair.

The Net Metering Bridge Rider (NMB) is a transitional solar incentive program offered by Duke Energy in North Carolina for both Duke Energy Progress (DEP) and Duke Energy Carolina (DEC) customers. This program allows solar system owners to receive credit for excess electricity their systems produce and send back to the grid. Unlike the previous 1-to-1 net metering program that closed on October 1, 2023, the NMB program values excess monthly production at 3.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.

To be eligible, homeowners must submit interconnection applications starting October 1, 2023, until the annual capacity for the program is filled. Once this capacity is reached, new customers will be placed on the Residential Solar Choice (RSC) program, which requires time-of-use with critical peak pricing. Important considerations include monthly minimum charges ($28 for DEP and $22 for DEC customers) and a monthly charge based on system size ($0.62/kW DC for DEP and $0.28/kW DC for DEC). Credits under this program are settled monthly rather than annually, and customers who were on the previous net metering program will be grandfathered until January 1, 2027.