Solar on Rentals in Apex: Billing, Credits and Tenants

Thinking about adding solar to a rental in Apex but not sure how the savings flow between you and your tenant? You are not alone. Many landlords and renters have questions about how net metering works, how credits appear on Duke Energy bills, and the cleanest ways to share benefits. This guide walks you through the mechanics, practical lease structures, and upkeep tips so you can make a confident, compliant plan. Let’s dive in.

How net metering works in Apex

In most cases, “net metering” means your on-site solar offsets your on-site use at the same meter. When the system produces more than a home is using, the meter registers exports. When the home uses more than the system produces, the meter registers imports. Your bill reflects the net amount for the billing period or any defined true-up period.

Utilities apply this in different ways. Some give retail credit for exported energy and allow credits to roll over each month. Others use net billing, where exported energy is valued at a different rate and may not roll over the same way. The exact compensation, rollover rules, and any true-up depend on the utility tariff that applies to your meter in Apex.

What to check with Duke Energy and NCUC

Policies can vary by service area and can change over time. Before you set financial expectations, confirm the following with Duke Energy and review North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) rules and approved tariffs:

• Eligibility limits for system size at a residential meter.
• How exported energy is valued (retail rate, an avoided-cost rate, or another rate).
• If credits roll month to month, how long they carry, and if there is an annual true-up.
• Whether time-of-use rates or demand charges apply to your account and how solar interacts with them.
• Interconnection steps, required metering, and any insurance requirements.
• Which bill line items apply to distributed generation for your service address.

Most of Apex is served by Duke Energy, and their interconnection documents and tariffs are the source of truth for how credits are handled. State oversight comes from the NCUC, which approves tariffs and rules.

What you will see on your bill

Your bill will typically show gross consumption, solar generation or net usage, and the net amount billed. If your exports exceed your usage for the month, you may see either a kWh credit that rolls to the next bill or a monetary credit. Some bills show a specific line like a net metering credit, while others show only net kWh and a final dollar amount. The interconnection agreement and the detailed bill pages explain how your account handles credits and rollovers.

Ways to share solar value on rentals

Solar on rentals works best when you set simple, transparent rules for who gets the bill credit and how you share savings. Your choices depend on who holds the utility account and how the system is metered.

Common setup scenarios

• System behind the tenant’s meter. The tenant is the utility customer and receives the on-bill savings and credits. This is simple for billing, but the landlord only benefits if the lease ties savings to rent or other terms.
• System on a landlord or master meter. The landlord is the customer of record. Generation reduces the landlord’s bill for the building or common loads. You may pass savings to tenants through lower rent or utility charges. This adds a need for a clear, fair allocation method.
• Shared system with submeters. Submetering allows measured allocation of consumption and solar benefits among units. This can be fair and transparent, but it adds hardware and requires compliance with rules for tenant billing and submetering.
• Third-party ownership or community solar subscription. A developer owns and operates the system and sells energy or bill credits to the landlord or tenants. Availability depends on utility programs and state regulation. Contracts should allow tenant participation and transfer when leases change.

Lease-friendly allocation methods

• Inclusive rent. You set rent to include utilities, factoring in expected solar savings. Disclose how this works so tenants understand what is included.
• Direct rent discount or a “solar credit” clause. The lease provides a monthly rent credit tied to expected or measured savings. Define how you calculate it, how often you reconcile it, and what happens if production varies.
• Utility pass-through with submetering. You hold the master meter and allocate both consumption and solar savings by submeter formulas. State rules can apply to how you bill tenants, so confirm compliance before you implement.
• Bill assignment or tenant subscription. The tenant is the utility customer and receives the credits directly. Your lease should set clear access and maintenance terms and require quick notice if the system faults.
• Shared savings percentage. You credit tenants a fixed percentage of measured generation or dollar savings. This is helpful where detailed submetering is not practical.

What to include in your lease

Every arrangement should make the billing flow and responsibilities clear. At a minimum, outline:

• Who is the utility account holder and who receives credits on the bill.
• How savings or credits are calculated, allocated, and reconciled. Specify whether you are using kWh or dollars and which rate you apply when you convert.
• Maintenance and access rights. Define routine care, notice requirements, and emergency shutdown steps.
• Warranty and repair. Assign who manages equipment warranties, workmanship warranty claims, and out-of-warranty costs.
• Termination and assignment. Explain what happens at move-out, how you handle final credits, and how rights shift if you sell the property.
• Insurance and liability for rooftop access and system faults.
• Dispute resolution and access to records for production and billing detail.

It is wise to have a North Carolina attorney familiar with landlord and utility rules review the clauses before you sign.

Practical allocation formulas

• Fixed monthly credit. Simple and predictable, but it can overpay in low-production months or underpay in high-production months.
• Proportional kWh credit. Allocate a share of the system’s kWh to a unit based on a fair metric, such as square footage, occupants, or actual consumption. Document the formula.
• Monthly credit with annual true-up. Provide a monthly estimate, then reconcile to actual production and use once a year. This keeps everyone whole over time.

Maintenance, monitoring and records

Owning a rental with solar works best when you treat the system like any other building asset. Define who is responsible for operations and maintenance, and keep records organized for the life of the system.

Routine O and M

• Set a schedule for visual checks each quarter and inverter or data checks each month.
• Plan a professional electrical inspection annually or per warranty guidance.
• Keep a relationship or service contract with a qualified installer for warranty service and emergency response.
• Clean panels only if local dust or pollen load meaningfully affects output. Follow manufacturer guidance.

Monitoring and performance

• Use remote monitoring that shows generation, inverter status, and alerts.

• Give the landlord and tenants, as appropriate, access to the performance dashboard.

• Compare expected output to actual production and investigate sustained underperformance.

Documentation to keep

• As-built drawings, single-line diagrams, and equipment specs with serial numbers.
• Signed permits, inspection approvals, and the utility interconnection agreement.
• Equipment and workmanship warranties and any extended service agreements, with notes on transfer rules.
• An operations manual and contact details for the installer or maintenance provider.
• Monitoring access credentials and a process to transfer access when property management changes.
• Service logs for inspections, repairs, and production history.
• Insurance policies noting coverage for the system and any required endorsements.

Insurance and safety

• Confirm your property insurance covers the solar assets and liability related to rooftop access.
• Keep proof of any interconnection insurance requirements.
• Create clear emergency shutoff instructions and mark disconnect locations. Share this information with tenants and first responders as appropriate.

Tenant turnover and sale

• At move-out, reconcile solar credits and document final meter readings if your allocation depends on occupancy.
• If you sell, prepare a clean package with permits, interconnection agreements, warranties, monitoring access, and service records. Note warranty transfer steps.

Local permitting and next steps

Adding solar in Apex requires local building and electrical permits. The Town of Apex Building Inspections Division and Wake County inspections will review rooftop attachment methods, structural needs for older buildings, and electrical safety. Always obtain required permits before installation.

Who to contact

• Duke Energy. Review customer-generator information, interconnection application steps, and the distributed generation tariff that applies to your address in Apex.
• North Carolina Utilities Commission. Check approved tariffs, interconnection rules, and any orders that affect net metering or export compensation.
• DSIRE. Use the state policy summary for North Carolina as a quick reference for current incentives and program status.
• Town of Apex and Wake County inspections offices. Confirm permit submittals, inspection timing, and any local requirements.

Incentives and taxes

Federal incentives may be available for property owners, including a federal investment tax credit if current law allows at the time of installation. Eligibility can vary, and assignment rules apply. Consult a tax advisor before you rely on incentives in your pro forma. State and local programs can change, so use authoritative sources for your final check.

Quick landlord checklist

• Confirm your Duke Energy territory and read the distributed generation tariff that applies to your service address.
• Decide who will be the utility account holder and design your lease allocation model accordingly.
• Consult Town of Apex and Wake County on permits and, if needed, structural review.
• Choose an allocation method for savings and have a NC attorney review your lease language.
• Set a maintenance plan and monitoring access, and line up a qualified service provider.
• Confirm insurance coverage for the system and any interconnection requirements.
• Keep a complete file: permits, interconnection agreement, warranties, as-builts, monitoring credentials, and service records.

Final thoughts

Solar can be a win for both landlord and tenant in Apex when billing flows and responsibilities are clear. The key is to verify how credits work on your specific Duke Energy tariff, document how you share value in the lease, and keep the system well maintained with good records. With a simple and transparent plan, you can reduce operating costs and make your rental more attractive in the Triangle market.

If you are weighing solar for a rental, preparing to market a solar-equipped property, or shaping a lease that shares benefits fairly, connect with Mundra Residential Group. We offer refined, advisory guidance rooted in local expertise. Request a Luxury Home Valuation to position your next move with confidence.

FAQs

How net metering works in Apex rentals

• In net metering, on-site solar offsets on-site usage at your meter. Exports and imports are netted under the tariff on your account. Duke Energy’s tariff and interconnection agreement define your credit rules.

Who receives solar bill credits on a rental

• The credits go to the customer of record at the meter where the system is interconnected. You can allocate economic value differently in a lease, but utility billing follows the meter.

How solar credits appear on Duke Energy bills

• You will typically see net usage and a net charge, and sometimes a line labeled for a net metering or distributed generation credit. Details vary by tariff, so read the bill’s breakdown and your interconnection agreement.

Lease options to share solar savings fairly

• Common options include inclusive rent, a flat monthly rent credit, submetered pass-through, tenant bill assignment, or a shared savings percentage. Define calculation, reconciliation, and end-of-lease steps.

Landlord maintenance responsibilities for rooftop solar

• Set a routine O and M schedule, monitor performance monthly, keep warranties and permits on file, and maintain a relationship with a qualified installer for service and emergencies.

What to do at tenant move-out with solar credits

• Reconcile any outstanding credits based on your lease method and document final readings if allocations depend on occupancy. Update monitoring and access for the next tenant.

Regulatory items to confirm before installing

• Verify Duke Energy interconnection steps and the applicable tariff, check Town of Apex and Wake County permit requirements, and review NC rules on submetering and tenant billing with a local attorney.