North Carolina

NC

HB 1129 — Plug-In Solar Device Consumer Access Act

Pending
Current Status
Last verified: May 2026

Legislative Status

HB 1129 introduced and active. Referred to House Public Utilities and Energy Committee. North Carolina Legislature meets year-round.

Sponsored by: Rep. Tricia Cotham

Legislation Progress

Introduced

15%

pipeline complete

Introduced
In Committee
Passed Committee
One Chamber
Both Chambers
Gov. Desk
Enacted

Passage Likelihood

30%

HB 1129 introduced but no committee hearing yet. Republican-led legislature; passage uncertain but bill has bipartisan co-sponsors.

North Carolina Solar Data

Avg. Electricity Rate13.8¢/kWh
TOU Peak Spread
4¢/kWh
Est. Annual Savings
~$170/yr
Last UpdatedMay 2026
Calculate NC Savings
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Key Provisions

Would exempt certified plug-in solar devices from NCUC interconnection requirements. Prohibits utilities from charging extra fees.

Effective DateNot specified in bill text
Wattage Limit1,200 watts
UL 3700Not mentioned
PermitNot addressed
Utility ApprovalWaived
UL 3700 DetailsUL or equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory certification required
HOA / DeedNot addressed in the bill text.
RentersNot addressed in the bill text.
Net MeteringNot explicitly addressed.
What Makes This State Unique

HB 1129 is the first plug-in solar bill introduced in the Southeast. North Carolina has strong existing solar capacity and favorable solar resources.

Notable Gaps

Does not address HOA restrictions, renter rights, net metering, or building permits.

What This Means for You

What You Can Do

No specific plug-in solar law yet. North Carolina has strong solar industry. Duke Energy Carolinas offers net metering.

Current Limitations

Utilities require interconnection agreements for grid-tied systems. HB 1129 would change this if enacted.

Official Bill Reference

Active — In Committee (2026)
View Full Bill Text — HB 1129

Opens official state legislature website in a new tab.

North Carolina State Overview

Key data on solar potential, demographics, utilities, and incentives.

Solar Resource
Peak Sun Hours5.13 hrs/day
Optimal Tilt20°
Best FacingDue South (180°)
Est. Annual Output (800W)1,118 kWh/yr
Best MonthsMay, April, July

PVWatts energy estimate is based on an hourly performance simulation using a typical-year weather file that represents a multi-year historical period for Raleigh, NC for a Fixed (open rack) photovoltaic system.

Major Utilities
Duke Energy Carolinas
~2.5 million customers
Net metering
Duke Energy Progress
~1.8 million customers
Net metering
Dominion Energy North Carolina
~130000 customers
Net metering

Population
10,835,491
Total Households
3,926,000
Owner-Occupied
2,728,000
Renter-Occupied
1,198,000
Single-Family Homes
2,267,890
Apartment Units (5+)
364,103
Median Income
$67,481
Median Home Value
$240,900

31% of North Carolina households are renter-occupied — approximately 1,198,000 households that could benefit from plug-in solar without owning their home.

North Carolina offers a 35% state corporate tax credit for solar (capped at $10,500); the personal income tax credit expired in 2015. Net metering available through Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The federal 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.