This bill allows North Carolina residents to install small, portable solar power systems up to 1.92 kilowatts without needing approval or paying fees from their electric utility. To ensure safety, the law requires these devices to have automatic shut-off features during power outages and mandates certification for larger units, while also exempting them from standard net metering programs. Additionally, the bill directs the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors to run a public awareness campaign funded by $100,000 to educate the public on electrical safety standards.
This bill establishes new rules for electric utilities serving large data centers in North Carolina, which are defined as facilities with a power demand of over 20 megawatts. It requires utilities to file specific tariffs that ensure these large customers pay for all the costs of building and maintaining the necessary power infrastructure, preventing rate hikes for regular residential and business customers. To protect the public, the law mandates strict contract terms, including a minimum 10-year commitment and a requirement for data centers to use at least 85% of their requested power, along with financial guarantees to cover potential risks if a facility closes early. Starting in 2028, no large data center can receive electricity unless the utility has a tariff approved by the state commission that meets these specific conditions.
SB 1030 expands North Carolina's Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income families by requiring health and safety improvements, such as better indoor air quality measures, alongside standard energy efficiency upgrades. The bill authorizes community-scale projects that target multiple homes in neighborhoods facing shared environmental or economic challenges, allowing local agencies and utilities to submit proposals for these initiatives. To fund these changes, the legislation appropriates $10 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with rules established to prioritize projects that maximize energy savings and address housing vulnerabilities.
SB 1024, titled 'My Power Bill Is Too High,' aims to protect North Carolina electricity customers by repealing the authority for multiyear rate plans that allow utility rates to increase automatically without annual review. The bill requires that all future electric utility rates be set only through a standard annual general rate case, eliminating preauthorized rate adjustments. Additionally, it modifies performance-based regulation rules to limit automatic rate increases to a maximum of four percent in the second and third years of any multiyear plan, while excluding large new generation projects from these automatic hikes. This legislation directly affects electric public utilities and their customers by ensuring more frequent regulatory oversight and greater transparency in how utility rates are determined.
HB 1063 establishes new regulations for large-scale data centers in North Carolina to protect utility customers and local resources. The law defines a large data center as a facility requiring 40 megawatts of electricity or consuming over a billion liters of water annually. Operators must obtain a certificate of operation and submit detailed disclosures regarding their energy and water usage before construction begins. Facilities are required to generate at least 25% of their power on-site using clean energy and pay full costs for any infrastructure upgrades needed to serve them. Additionally, the bill limits state and local incentives for these facilities to prevent shifting utility costs to residential and small business customers.
SB 472 streamlines water quality permit reviews for specific projects in North Carolina, directly affecting developers of upland basin marinas, energy/fuel infrastructure, and maintenance dredging projects funded by certain state programs. It sets strict deadlines for the Department of Environmental Quality: requiring fee notifications within 5 business days, completeness reviews within 30 days, and final decisions within 10-15 days (or automatically waiving certification if deadlines are missed). The bill also clarifies that certain man-made ditches and upland basin marinas are not subject to coastal management regulations. These changes aim to accelerate project approvals while maintaining existing water quality standards. The bill is pending review and would take effect October 1, 2025.
SB 682 appropriates $6.5 million in one-time state funds for capital improvements at the Charlotte Nature Museum, operated by Discovery Place, Inc. The bill allocates $1.5 million specifically for completing sidewalks, parking lots, and electric vehicle charging stations across the museum property, and $5 million for the Tree Canopy Walk project, including its construction, safety features, accessibility upgrades, and educational exhibits. These funds are designated for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and will directly support physical infrastructure and visitor experience enhancements at the museum. The project benefits the museum's operations and the public who visit the facility.
HB 131 reinstates a 35% tax credit for businesses and homeowners who install solar energy systems in North Carolina. Businesses can claim the credit over five years (with a $2.5 million maximum per installation), while homeowners receive capped credits based on system type (e.g., $1,400 for water heating, $3,500 for space heating). The credit applies to equipment placed in service in the state and expires for new installations after 2017, though projects meeting 2015 construction milestones qualify for extension. This bill renews a previously expired tax incentive program for solar energy adoption.
SB 322, the Utility Worker Protection Act, increases penalties for assaulting utility or communications workers who are visibly identifiable (e.g., wearing company-logo uniforms or hats) while performing their duties. It specifically targets assaults against workers providing electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, or internet services. The bill reclassifies such assaults as Class 1 misdemeanors, raising the punishment level for these offenses. This change applies to incidents occurring on or after December 1, 2025. The law does not affect prosecutions for offenses committed before that date.
SB 521 creates a 35% nonrefundable income tax credit for investment entities (like partnerships or S-corps) that fund small, newly formed businesses focused on community infrastructure and resilience. Eligible businesses must be under five years old, employ 25 or fewer people in North Carolina, generate $2 million or less in annual revenue, and primarily work on projects like improving roads, utilities, disaster preparedness, or sustainable energy. The credit limits total annual state spending to $5 million and caps individual credits at $100,000 per year, with unused credits carryable for up to 10 years. This policy aims to incentivize private investment in community-focused small businesses through tax benefits, not direct government funding.
