The Future of Rooftop Solar Uncertain as Duke Seeks To Lower It’s Net Metering Payments to Consumers

Source: WRAL

Home owners purchasing rooftop solar systems currently receive a payback from Duke Energy for the electricity their solar panels over produce during daylight hours which is called “net metering”.  This coupled with a federal tax rebate has made rooftop solar affordable for folks wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and help in fighting climate change.

Unfortunately, House Bill 589, which became law in 2017, ordered changes to net metering, but only after conducting a study of the costs and benefits of it.

Steve Miller, owner of YES Solar Solutions in Cary, says the proposed deal would cut the value of his product by 25 to 30 percent.

“Frankly, I think it’s going to cause a lot of people to doubt whether solar is the right avenue for them to take in the future,” Miller said. “I think it’s unfair to people that want to invest and do the right thing for the climate.”

The NC Utility Commission should do its own, impartial study of both aspects of net metering before making any decisions on eliminating the payback. Duke Energy’s net income amounted to approximately 3.6 billion in the financial year 2021. It seems clear that the net metering payback to consumers isn’t hurting their bottom line.

Share:

More Posts

A victory for North Carolina Voters: Jefferson Griffin finally concedes in state Supreme Court race

Griffin’s concession comes after a federal judge ordered North Carolina election officials to confirm the victory of Justice Allison Riggs on the state Supreme Court. U.S. District Judge Richard Myers, appointed to the bench by Trump, ruled that all of the ballots challenged by Judge Jefferson Griffin must count and ordered the State Board of Elections to certify the results that Allison Riggs won.

Money talks: chemical giant, Chemours donates thousands to NC GOP lawmakers

Now the company is looking to lawmakers to avoid having to face more consequences for their pollution of North Carolina waters.  This legislative session, lawmakers are considering bills to hold polluters accountable, including House Bill 569, entitled “PFAS Pollution and Polluter Liability” and Senate Bill 666, the “2025 Water Safety Act”.