Portable-Scale Solar Energy Devices.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 957

Short Title: Portable-Scale Solar Energy Devices. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Moffitt, Lazzara, and Mayfield (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S957-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF SMALL, PO RTABLE-SCALE SOLAR E NERGY 2
GENERATION DEVICES AND TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM 3
OFFERED BY THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
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PORTABLE-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION DEVICES 7
SECTION 1. G.S. 62-126.3 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 8
"(11a) Portable-scale solar energy generation device. – A solar photovoltaic system 9
and associated equipment, including a battery energy storage system, that is 10
designed or commissioned to supply a maximum power output of not more 11
than 1.92 kilowatts (kW) to the electric grid." 12
SECTION 2. Article 6B of Chapter 62 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 13
a new section to read: 14
"§ 62-126.15. Portable-scale solar energy generation devices. 15
(a) A customer of an electric power supplier may operate a portable -scale solar energy 16
generation device, provided that all of the following requirements are met: 17
(1) The operation of the portable-scale solar energy generation device is primarily 18
intended to offset the customer 's own electricity use and not for the primary 19
purpose of producing electricity for sale to or for the public for compensation. 20
(2) The portable -scale solar energy generation device , if designed or 21
commissioned to supply a maximum power output exceeding 391 watts, has 22
been certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally 23
recognized testing laboratory. 24
(3) The portable-scale solar energy generation device incorporates a mechanism 25
or feature that prevents the device from energizing the grid during a power 26
outage. 27
(b) An electric power supplier shall not require a customer who operates a portable-scale 28
solar energy generation device to do any of the following as a condition of receiving services 29
from the electric power supplier: 30
(1) Enter into an interconnection agreement or otherwise obtain the electric power 31
supplier's approval before installing or using the portable -scale solar energy 32
generation device. 33
(2) Pay any fee or charge related to the installation or use of a portable-scale solar 34
energy generation device. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 957-First Edition
(3) Install any addi tional controls or equipment beyond what is required by 1
subsection (a) of this section. 2
(c) An electric power supplier is not liable for any damage or injury caused by a 3
portable-scale solar energy generation device. 4
(d) Subject to the limitations of this section, an electric power supplier may offer a special 5
rate tariff to retail customers who operate a portable-scale solar energy generation device." 6
SECTION 3. G.S. 62-110.1(g) reads as rewritten: 7
"(g) The certification requirements of this section shall not apply to (i) a nonutility-owned 8
generating facility fueled by clean energy resources under two megawatts in capacity; (ii) to 9
persons who construct an electric generating facility primarily for that person's own use and not 10
for the primary purpose of producing electricity, heat, or steam for sale to or for the public for 11
compensation; or (iii) a solar energy facility or a community solar energy facility, as provided by 12
and subject to the limitations of Article 6B of t his Chapter. However, such persons shall be 13
required to report the proposed construction of the facility and the completion of the facility to 14
the Commission and the interconnecting public utility. Such reports shall be for informational 15
purposes only and shall not require action by the Commission or the Public Staff. The reporting 16
requirements of this subsection shall not apply to the construction or installation of a 17
portable-scale solar energy generation device as defined in G.S. 62-126.3." 18
SECTION 4. G.S. 62-126.4 reads as rewritten: 19
"§ 62-126.4. Commission to establish net metering rates. 20
(a) Each electric public utility shall file for Commission approval revised net metering 21
rates for electric customers that (i) own a renewable energy facility facility, other than a 22
portable-scale solar energy generation device, for that person's own primary use or (ii) are 23
customer generator lessees. 24
(b) The rates shall be nondiscriminatory and established only after an investigation of the 25
costs and benefits o f customer-sited generation. The Commission shall establish net metering 26
rates under all tariff designs that ensure that the net metering retail customer pays its full fixed 27
cost of service. Such rates may include fixed monthly energy and demand charges. 28
(c) Until the rates have been approved by the Commission as required by this section, the 29
rate shall be the applicable net metering rate in place at the time the facility interconnects. Retail 30
customers that own and install an on -site renewable energy facility and interconnect to the grid 31
prior to the date the Commission approves new metering rates may elect to continue net metering 32
under the net metering rate in effect at the time of interconnection until January 1, 2027. 33
(d) Retail customers that operate a portable-scale solar energy generation device without 34
otherwise owning or leasing a renewable energy facility shall not be eligible to participate in any 35
net metering tariff authorized by this section. 36
(e) Retail customers may operate a renewable energy facility without having to elect to 37
participate in a net metering rate." 38
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EXPAND THE PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE BOARD OF 40
EXAMINERS OF ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS 41
SECTION 5. G.S. 87-50.1 reads as rewritten: 42
"§ 87-50.1. Public awareness program. 43
The Board shall establish and implement a public awareness program to inform the general 44
public of the purpose and function of the Board. In implementing the public awareness program, 45
the Board shall provide workforce training and education programs to raise awareness of the 46
requirements of the National Electrical Code , as incorporated in the North Carolina State 47
Building Code, to promote higher rates of compliance with these requirements." 48
SECTION 6.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of 49
Examiners of Electrical Contractors the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) in 50
recurring funds beginning in the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to be used by the Board for the purpose 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 957-First Edition Page 3
of imp lementing the expanded public awareness program required under G.S. 87-50.1, as 1
amended by Section 5 of this act. 2
SECTION 6.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 3
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EFFECTIVE DATE 5
SECTION 7. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 6
law. 7