Duke’s Green Source Advantage Program

The North Carolina General Assembly implemented Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage program (GSA) that provides customers with renewable energy options to help increase renewable energy development in the state. Customers who take advantage of the GSA include major military installations, University of North Carolina institutions, and large business customers.

100% Renewable

The newest proposal expands the GSA by allowing customers to use 100% renewable energy that pairs with energy storage units. Not only will these customers use renewable energy 24/7, but they will also receive access to up to 4,000 megawatts of power capacity. Using renewable energy projects connected to Duke Energy’s grid would offset customers’ power purchases, and count the renewable energy generated towards their sustainability goals.

GSA Proposal Changes

• Renewable energy use increased from 30% to 100% 

• Purchases are made with Duke Energy or independent developers 

• Energy storage can combine with projects to align energy production with energy load

• A new 10-year avoided cost bill credit option is introduced with the existing 5-year and 2-year options 

Clean Energy Impact

Along with the GSA program expansion, Duke proposes another renewable program called the Clean Energy Impact. This program targets customers who aim to claim a certain percentage of renewable energy to meet sustainability goals. Renters and residential customers benefit from this program since contracts are on a month to month basis.   

To read the official release on these programs from Duke Energy, click the link here!

Renu’s Solar Bill of Rights

As the Solar Industry continues to grow, companies of all sizes are finding different ways to reach their customers, design systems, and provide solar installation services. One thing all solar companies focus on is providing customers with the right to own clean and controllable energy. Motives for going solar range from saving money to creating clean energy. Below, Renu lists their beliefs that homeowners with solar energy should have in an ideal scenario.

Article I

The right to own your own electrical power source on your property without interference from the utility company

Article II

The right to connect your solar and storage to the grid and receive energy credits for contributed power to the electric grid

Article III

The right to not connect a solar and storage system to the grid 

Article IV

The right to increase resale value of the property from working solar power systems

Article V

The right to acquire a solar system via financing for little to no upfront cost and pay off the solar system over a period of time

Article VI

The right to reduce a person’s carbon footprint via solar power

Article VII

The right to freedom from discriminatory fees and charges associated with installing solar and storage technologies

Article VIII

The right for a timely and professional installation process

Article IX

The right for professional service should it arise at any time

Article X

The right for solar education with accurate information that assists in the investment decision-making process

Let us know your solar bill of rights below!

Renu’s Growth

Since 2010, Renu Energy Solutions has been providing solar installations, electric vehicle chargers, and energy storage units for residential and commercial properties. From its beginning, Renu has grown immensely. Director of Operations Hannah Elliot describes Renu’s beginnings as a 25-35 employee operation to now a 100+ employee operation covering North and South Carolina. Growth like what Renu experiences requires new ways of doing business. Zoho Analytics changed the way Renu carries out projects from sales all the way to installation.

Before Zoho Analytics

Prior to Zoho Analytics’ integration to Renu’s office, project details were kept in folders, notes were kept on paper, and employees memorized customer details. Once project bandwidth increased, traditional methods of data collecting were no longer capable of keeping up. Projects take different amounts of time to complete and are constantly at different stages from one another.

Zoho Analytics’ Automation

Jeff Aliotta, CSO, emphasizes the importance of understanding the company’s improvement. “We need to know if we are getting better or worse.”, Aliotta says. While using CRM and Zoho Projects helped keep track of data, measuring the business’ health was hard without more tools. John Sheldon, Director of New Business Capabilities, realized that these tools needed to be able to “talk” with one another and generate reports. Zoho Analytics pulls data from CRM and Zoho Projects and creates reports automatically; replacing the need to make reports manually.

Another Employee In The Office

Zoho Analytics produces reports by the minute, allowing operations to make decisions fast. As Renu Energy Solutions grows, so do the number of projects. With Zoho Analytics, Renu can take these projects head on with the confidence that the necessary information is provided. Sheldon describes Zoho Analytics as “another employee in the office” that is there to assist when needed. Renu Energy Solutions recommends using Zoho Analytics in any office no matter the industry.

To read Zoho’s Case Study with Renu Energy Solutions, click here!

Solar Tax Credit Eligibility

One of the main perks of investing in solar for the home are the federal tax credits customers receive. The solar tax credit decreases customers’ federal income tax, and derives from a percentage of the cost of a complete solar system installation. In 2022, the federal government passed the Inflation Reduction Act which increases the percentage of costs customers receive from 26% to 30%. Eligibility for the solar tax credit includes: 

• Installing and powering on a PV solar system during the tax year 
• Installing the system at a customer’s primary or secondary residence
• Owning the system from purchasing with cash or financing options 
• Claiming the one time tax credit on the original installation 

Solar Tax Credit Expenses

The federal tax credit includes multiple expenses that associate with a PV solar system. From labor to components, the expenses add up which gives customers the incentive to choose a company that provides components and installation services. A company that helps its customers from the consultation phase to the system activation phase will be able to assist with keeping track of expenses. The list of expenses includes

• Solar Modules (Panels) 
• Labor including site preparation, installation, permitting fees, inspection costs, and developer fees
• Energy conversion equipment such as wires, inverters, and mounting equipment
• Energy storage units that are paired with a PV solar system
• Sales taxes on expenses listed above

Accepted Circumstances

Sometimes, a customer will meet the requirements to receive the federal tax credit while having certain circumstances that differentiate them from the average customer. Each customer has their own needs when they choose to install a solar system. If a customer meets the requirements for the federal tax credit, they can receive the credit if: 

• The customer isn’t a homeowner, but a tenant-stockholder at a co-op housing corp or a condominium owner 
• Their vacation home is not a rental property 
• Their system isn’t connected to the grid, but generates electricity for the residence
• The solar panels are on the property but not the roof
• The residence has a home office, but the majority of power is used for residential purposes 
• The customer used financing rather than paying cash for the system 

Learn How To Claim

Once a customer receives the federal tax credit, they should understand how that tax credit can be used. For example, if a customer’s federal tax credit exceeds their tax liability, they won’t be able to get a refund. Although, any left over tax credit that hasn’t been used can be moved to the following year. Also, federal tax credit can be applied to the alternative minimum tax. 

Customers can claim the tax credit by filling out IRS Form 5696 and attaching it to their federal tax return. For more information homeowners should know about the solar federal tax credit, click here to read the official guide from the U.S Department of Energy.