If you live in Dominion Energy’s northeastern North Carolina territory, your rooftop solar is credited under Dominion’s own residential net metering, on Schedules 1, 1P, or 1T, at the full retail rate, with monthly credits that roll forward and a June 1 annual true-up (Dominion Energy). You are not on Duke Energy’s newer bridge rate, so do not assume Duke’s rules apply to your home.
Dominion Energy North Carolina serves the northeastern corner of the state, counties such as Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, and Perquimans, plus towns like Elizabeth City. That matters because North Carolina’s two big investor-owned utilities credit solar differently, and Dominion homeowners keep getting a rule that most Duke customers no longer can. This page explains how Dominion North Carolina solar is credited, why it is not the same as Duke’s bridge rate, what a typical system produces here, and how to qualify in 2026.
Dominion Energy North Carolina at a glance
Dominion runs net metering and interconnection in its northeastern North Carolina footprint. This is a separate service territory from Duke Energy, which covers most of the rest of the state, so the correct starting point is confirming Dominion is your utility.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory | Northeastern North Carolina (Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans and nearby counties), including Elizabeth City |
| Net metering rate | Full retail credit for exports, on residential Schedules 1, 1P, or 1T |
| Credit handling | Monthly kWh credits roll forward; unused credit is trued up and forfeited each June 1 |
| System size cap | Residential systems up to 20 kW AC, sized to no more than 100% of your annual use |
| Open to new customers | Yes, new residential applications are accepted; a $200 application fee applies under 20 kW |
| NC residential rate | About 15.09 cents per kWh statewide (EIA, data period May 2026) |
| Source | Dominion Energy North Carolina net metering |
How much a system makes here. According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 6 kW rooftop system in Dominion’s Elizabeth City area produces about 8,707 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8, standard 6 kW system), which is worth roughly $1,314 of offset power at North Carolina’s 15.09 cents per kWh residential rate (EIA, data period May 2026). Because Dominion credits your exports at the full retail rate, that is close to the real value a Dominion household captures, not a discounted buy-back. Estimate your own roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator.
Why Dominion net metering is not Duke’s bridge rate
This is the part northeastern North Carolina homeowners get wrong. Duke Energy closed its old one-to-one residential net metering (Rider NM) to new customers on September 30, 2023, and moved new solar customers onto two newer riders: Residential Solar Choice (Rider RSC) and a transitional Net Metering Bridge (Rider NMB), effective October 1, 2023 (North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff). Under those Duke riders, exports are credited less favorably than full retail, and the Bridge rate is a time-limited option that Duke has said closes to new enrollment after 2026.
Dominion Energy North Carolina did not adopt Duke’s riders. A Dominion residential customer applies under Dominion’s own net metering on Schedules 1, 1P, or 1T, where exported kWh are credited at the retail rate and banked month to month, then trued up each June 1 (Dominion Energy). So if you are in the northeastern counties, a “Duke bridge rate” guide, or a quote built around Duke’s numbers, is the wrong utility for your home. Confirm your provider on your electric bill before you compare offers. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| Feature | Dominion Energy North Carolina | Duke Energy (new customers) |
|---|---|---|
| Export credit | Full retail rate | Rider RSC or the Net Metering Bridge, credited below full retail |
| Rider name | Dominion net metering, Schedules 1 / 1P / 1T | Rider RSC (Residential Solar Choice); Rider NMB (Bridge) |
| Annual true-up | Unused credit forfeited each June 1 | Set by the Duke rider terms, not Dominion’s |
| Who it applies to | Northeastern NC homes on a Dominion account | Most of the rest of the state on a Duke account |
| Source | Dominion Energy | NCUC Public Staff |
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How to connect solar to Dominion in North Carolina
Connecting a home system follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot switch the system on until Dominion grants permission to operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer apply under Dominion’s residential net metering for a system of 20 kW AC or less, sized to no more than your annual usage. A $200 application fee applies for systems under 20 kW.
- Interconnection agreement. Dominion reviews the application and issues an agreement to sign and return.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes your county or municipal electrical inspection.
- Meter set. Dominion installs a bidirectional meter that measures both delivered and exported energy.
- Permission to operate. Dominion issues permission to operate; the system may not run on the grid before this.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process for you. For the questions to ask before you sign, see the right questions to ask a solar installer, and to weigh payback in North Carolina, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
What changed federally, and what it means for Dominion customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Dominion’s retail net metering is not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Dominion customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). North Carolina has no state residential solar income-tax credit, so the retail net-metering value is the core of the return here. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner, and it runs for projects placed in service through 2027, with a begin-construction safe harbor by July 4, 2026 (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit). For a leased system on a Dominion account you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does, and your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
How to choose a solar installer in Dominion territory
Northeastern North Carolina is a smaller market than Charlotte or Raleigh, so screen any installer against objective criteria rather than a “best of” list:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper North Carolina licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with Dominion interconnection, not just Duke, so the paperwork and permission to operate go smoothly on the correct utility.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
If you are actually a Duke customer, use our Duke Energy North Carolina solar guide instead, and for the statewide picture see solar in North Carolina. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How does Dominion Energy North Carolina credit my solar?
Dominion credits the power you export at the full retail rate on residential Schedules 1, 1P, or 1T. Monthly credits roll forward to later months, and any unused credit is trued up and forfeited each June 1 (Dominion Energy). Because the credit is at retail, the smart move is to size a system close to your annual usage rather than oversizing it to bank a big surplus you would lose at the June true-up.
Is Dominion the same as Duke’s net metering bridge rate?
No. Duke Energy closed its old one-to-one net metering to new customers on September 30, 2023 and moved new solar customers to Rider RSC (Residential Solar Choice) and a transitional Net Metering Bridge, which credit exports below full retail (North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff). Dominion Energy North Carolina did not adopt those riders. If you are in Dominion’s northeastern territory, a Duke bridge-rate guide is the wrong utility for your home, so confirm your provider on your bill.
What size solar system can I install on a Dominion account?
Dominion’s residential net metering is for systems up to 20 kW AC, sized so they do not reasonably produce more than 100% of your annual electricity use. A $200 application fee applies for systems under 20 kW. A typical 6 kW system in the Elizabeth City area produces about 8,707 kWh a year based on NREL PVWatts modeling, which suits many homes without exceeding the sizing rule.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A Dominion customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Dominion’s retail net metering was not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
Do I qualify for Dominion solar credit if I lease or sign a PPA?
Net-metering credits normally follow the Dominion account holder, but on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels often keeps the bill credits, depending on the contract, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the net-metering value in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures it.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Dominion Energy North Carolina, North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff, EIA, NREL PVWatts, and IRS sources as of August 2026; net-metering terms, rider rules, and rates change over time, so confirm current terms with Dominion Energy and the North Carolina Utilities Commission before you decide. Production figures are NREL PVWatts estimates for a standard system and will vary by roof. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the bill credits often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
