North Carolina Regulators Issue Order to Strengthen the State’s Rooftop Solar Market

The region’s initial action establishes a higher standard for incentives regarding solar power and battery storage in the Southeast. Friday, Mar 24 2023. Share. A statement has been released to the public. On Thursday, the NC Utilities Commission put forward the last decrees in the net metering “Smart $aver” proceeding. The Commission agreed on a 3-year period wherein solar users would move from regular credits to a fresh rate plan, which will reward the use of solar during prime times. The order requires Duke Energy to open a solar plus storage program within 90 days, and establishes a $0.36/watt incentive to increase solar energy use, as well as an additional incentive to promote domestic energy storage installations. Will Giese, the Southeast Regional Director for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has something to say. This directive is a positive change for North Carolina’s rooftop solar industry, which allows citizens to determine the type of electricity they want. North Carolina has long had a significant utility-scale solar market, yet the rooftop solar sector has been substantially lacking.