When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the surplus flows back to the grid. Under Duke Energy’s revised North Carolina residential solar riders, that exported surplus is credited at an avoided-cost-based net excess energy credit rate rather than the old full-retail structure for new customers.
The NC Public Staff net metering page explains the current Rider NMB and Rider RSC structure and points customers to the applicable net metering rider for the most recent net excess energy credit.
For homeowners, the practical effect is that self-consumed solar is usually more valuable than exported solar. A battery can help store daytime production for later use, but it should be modeled against your actual load and current tariff.
Ask each installer what export rate they used in the payback estimate. If the proposal assumes full-retail export credits for a new Duke Energy customer, the savings estimate may be too optimistic.
Common questions
- What is Duke Energy's avoided cost rate for solar in North Carolina?
- The exact rate depends on utility territory, rider, and effective tariff date. Check the current Duke Energy rider or NC Public Staff materials before quoting a number.
- How does the avoided cost rate affect solar payback?
- It makes exported solar less valuable than solar used directly in the home. That can make right-sizing, load shifting, and battery storage more important.
- Is there any way to still get legacy net metering in North Carolina?
- Legacy treatment depends on interconnection timing and the applicable Duke Energy tariff. New customers should assume Rider NMB or Rider RSC unless Duke confirms otherwise.