Tired of Highlands Electric bills? Here are your solar and backup options
Highlands is one of the few mountain towns that runs its own electric system. Here is how the town handles rooftop solar and why backup power matters so much on the plateau.
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Who runs Highlands electric
The Town of Highlands operates a municipal electric system, listed by the American Public Power Association as the Highlands Municipal Plant. It serves customers on the Highlands plateau, and the town board sets policy and rates. The town's solar paperwork references building codes in both Jackson and Macon counties.
How Highlands handles rooftop solar
The town board adopted a photovoltaic interconnection standard in 2012 for systems of 10 kW or less. You apply with a one-line diagram, the town checks the application and verifies the equipment, and a licensed electrical inspector signs a Certificate of Completion. The town may run a witness test within 15 business days before you can operate.
The system needs its own meter and a lockable disconnect the town can reach at any time. The customer reports the project to the NC Utilities Commission before the agreement is signed. The town pays for all power delivered to its system under a small power production rate schedule, with or without a demand meter. That reads like buy-all, sell-all, but ask the town utility office for current terms and rates in writing.
Outages on the plateau
Highlands sits high on the Blue Ridge escarpment, with heavy rain, ice and big trees close to the lines. Hurricane Helene in late September 2024 left much of western North Carolina without power. Up here, a backup plan is not a luxury.
If backup power is the goal, plan for a battery or a standby generator. Grid-tied solar stops producing during an outage unless it is paired with equipment built to island safely. Ask the contractor to size backup around the loads you cannot do without, such as heat, the fridge, a sump or well pump, and to confirm the layout with Highlands Electric before anything is installed.
Start with a $349 home energy evaluation
Getting a solar contractor out to Highlands can take a while. Booking a paid evaluation on HomeBackupPros changes that. For $349 a contractor does an electric audit, reviews your energy use and writes up a quote for a system that fits Highlands Electric's rules. If you buy from that same contractor, the $349 is credited toward the system.
Have your kWh by month handy from your Highlands Electric bills, and note what runs on electric versus gas or propane. Every contractor on HomeBackupPros is reviewed and approved by our team, and we check their NC electrical contractor license. Contractors are independent businesses and HomeBackupPros does not install anything. Some contractors also offer a free site visit or an estimate, and the choice is yours.
Where Highlands Electric serves in our area
- Highlands
- Macon County
- Jackson County
Questions
Can I put solar on my house in Highlands?
Yes. The town has a board-approved interconnection standard for photovoltaic systems of 10 kW or less, with an application, inspection, Certificate of Completion and possible witness test.
Does Highlands offer net metering?
The town's posted standard says it pays for all power delivered to its system under a small power production rate schedule, not net metering. Ask the town for the current rates.
Is solar a good fit for a shaded Highlands lot?
Many Highlands lots have tall trees and steep, north-facing slopes. A contractor should run a shade analysis first. Some homes get better value from a battery or generator than from panels.
What backup do Highlands homes need?
Plan for multi-day outages from ice and storms. A propane generator is common, and a battery adds quiet backup for shorter events. Second homes often add remote monitoring.