North Carolina
HB 1129 / SB 957 is moving through the legislature; there is no state plug-in solar law yet.
- Bill
- HB 1129 / SB 957
- Size limit in the bill
- no law yet
Checked October 14, 2026
State law · North Carolina
Is plug-in solar legal in North Carolina?
There is no North Carolina law in effect for plug-in solar as of October 14, 2026. A bill pair (HB 1129 and companion SB 957) is pending in the legislature, but sources disagree on its current status.
- StatusBill in progress
- BillHB 1129 / SB 957
- Average rate, EIA14.94¢/kWh
- CheckedOct 14, 2026
Where the bill stands
- Bill introducedHB 1129 / SB 957
- Passed the legislaturein progress
- Signednot yet
- In effectnot yet
A typical year in North Carolina800 W kit · railing, facing south · near the state's population center
Service ZIP272xxNorth Carolina
755 kWhproduced in a typical year
$64saved per year
14.94¢/kWhAverage home rate, EIA
429 kWh used at home × 14.94¢ = $64.14; 325 kWh sent to the grid unpaid, 0 kWh lost to the inverter limit. At North Carolina's average rate (EIA).
North Carolina: Bill in progressHB 1129 / SB 957 is moving through the legislature; there is no state plug-in solar law yet.
- Bill
- HB 1129 / SB 957
- Proposed
- —
Production by month, kWh
- Used at home
- Sent to the grid
Residential average, January to July 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly).
Open the calculatorWhere sources differ
StatusBright Saver states the bills were deferred to 2027; the official NCGA bill pages show referral to Rules in 2026 but do not state deferral.
Statuslegislature page reading suggests "carryover-2027"; the Bright Saver tracker category is "bill-active" — the tracker category is used
Current bill and status
HB 1129 (with companion SB 957) was introduced and the official NC legislature page records the last action as “Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate” on 5/4/2026. The bill pages do not state that the measure was carried over to 2027.
A tracker (Bright Saver) reports the bills were deferred to 2027 and will be reconsidered; the official NCGA pages do not say this. Because the two sources differ, the immediate legislative status is unresolved on the check date.
What you can do now
Systems that do not connect to the grid require no utility interconnection and remain an option: for example, a portable power station charged by a panel. EcoFlow lists portable units with a range of capacities and AC outputs you can pair with panels (see the kits overview).
The site's calculator gives example production for an 800 W kit at the state population center. Mounted vertically south-facing the calculator gives 755 kWh a year (429 kWh used at home, 57%) and the home-used energy is worth $64 a year at 14.94 cents per kWh; tilted at 30° south the same 800 W produces 1,159 kWh and saves $78 a year. Do not connect a grid-tied kit to the grid unless your utility and any applicable rules allow it.
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus — 2048Wh capacity, 3000W AC output (EcoFlow)
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 — 4000Wh capacity, 4000W AC output (EcoFlow)
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus / Classic — 1024Wh capacity, 1800W AC output (EcoFlow)
- EcoFlow TRAIL 300/Plus 300 DC — 288Wh, 300W output; TRAIL 200 DC — 192Wh, 220W output (EcoFlow)
Questions
Is plug-in solar legal in North Carolina right now?
No statewide plug-in solar law is in effect on October 14, 2026. HB 1129 / SB 957 are pending; the NC legislature page shows referral to Rules on 5/4/2026, while Bright Saver reports deferral to 2027.
What would these bills do if passed?
Bright Saver summarizes that similar bills typically define a new class of small systems, exempt them from full utility interconnection requirements, and require product safety certification for kits.
How much would an 800 W kit produce in North Carolina?
The calculator gives 755 kWh a year for an 800 W kit mounted vertically south-facing (429 kWh used at home) and 1,159 kWh a year if tilted at 30° south. At 14.94 cents per kWh those cases correspond to about $64 and $78 a year in value for home-used energy.