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Getting Started with Solar
Apex is committed to a clean energy future powered by innovation and community action. Through supportive policies, streamlined permitting, and the Town’s own electric utility, we’re making it easier and more affordable for residents and businesses to go solar. Explore the drop-down accordion below to learn the four steps for getting started with solar!
Maximize your solar investment by reducing energy waste before installing solar panels. Upgrading insulation, appliances, and lighting can lower energy demand and increase the impact of your solar system.
Maximize your solar investment by reducing energy waste before installing solar panels. Upgrading insulation, appliances, and lighting can lower energy demand and increase the impact of your solar system.
The Town of Apex has a solar permitting process intended to help residents and businesses move from design to installation with confidence.
For more technical details and requirements, including diagrams for system connections and metering configurations, visit:
Apex Electric Utilities supports customers who generate renewable energy through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Once your system is installed, complete the interconnection process to safely connect to the Town’s electric grid.
Benefits of Solar
Not only does solar power help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but it can also directly benefit you as a resident. Through Apex’s electric metering program, any excess energy your solar panels generate is purchased from you at the same rate you pay for electricity. Navigate the drop-down accordion to learn more about the benefits of solar.
Solar energy harnesses a renewable resource, the sun, to deliver lasting benefits for both individuals and the community.
Here's how solar makes a difference:
- Helps protect our environment and improve air quality by reducing carbon emissions
- Supports hundreds of jobs across North Carolina
- Lowers energy costs as technology advances and demand grows
- Strengthens our electric grid’s resilience during periods of high demand or stress
Our staff continues to make solar deployment faster, easier, and more affordable for residents and businesses. To further encourage solar adoption, the Town Council enacted leading state policies, including net metering that allows customers to install their own solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, use the energy they generate at the retail rate, and receive credit for any excess power returned to the grid.
What’s Your Solar Savings Potential?
- Your home’s solar potential
- The solar potential for the Town of Apex
Solar Resources
- Additional information about metering and rate options
How Net Metering Works
To make solar metering simple and accurate, the Town starts each meter at a value of 50,000 kWh. From there, the number moves up or down depending on your power use:
- Number increases when you purchase power from the town.
- Number decreases when your solar panels send excess power back to the grid.
At the end of each billing cycle, we calculate your net energy use by subtracting the starting reading from the ending reading.
Your bill will show this net consumption value, not separate “delivered” and “received” amounts.
To track your solar system’s performance, compare your current month’s usage to the same month in previous years. Keep in mind that shorter, cloudier winter days (especially in January and February) often reduce solar production, which can lead to higher utility bills during those months.
In addition to Apex's net metering system, North Carolina offers several statewide incentive programs for home and business owners with solar installations.
To learn about statewide solar incentive programs, visit:
Together for a Sustainable Future
Every solar installation in Apex helps move our community toward a cleaner, more resilient future. By combining energy efficiency, renewable power, and local innovation, we’re shaping a town that runs on sustainability—today and for generations to come.