Preparing for 2026 Energy Code Changes

What Commercial Lighting Professionals in North & South Carolina Should Know

As we move into 2026, commercial property owners and facility managers in North and South Carolina face important energy-code changes that will impact lighting and electrical work. Staying ahead of these changes gives you a competitive advantage, and helps ensure your next lighting upgrade or retrofit goes smoothly, rather than being delayed by unexpected compliance issues.

What’s Changing?

North Carolina

New commercial energy-code provisions based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) have been adopted and are scheduled for mandatory use. The 2024 edition of the North Carolina Energy Conservation Code (NCECC) became available for use starting January 1, 2025 and is set for mandatory enforcement on July 1, 2025

For commercial projects, Section C405 and C406 include lighting-power allowances and control requirements.
For interior lighting, one key requirement: “The total connected interior lighting power … shall be less than 90 percent of the total lighting-power allowance.”

In short: if you’re planning lighting upgrades, panel work, smart controls, or major fixture swaps in NC in 2026, you’ll need to make sure the lighting design aligns with these updated power ceilings and control requirements.

South Carolina

South Carolina’s commercial energy-code situation is more complex and slower moving. According to the Department of Energy state profile, SC has adopted older editions (for example, IECC 2009/ASHRAE 90.1-2007) and has not yet moved to the most recent versions.

That means for now, lighting work in SC is often governed by older energy-code standards, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore advances. Best practice is to design for the future so you’re ready when SC updates.

Also: there are new programs (such as the South Carolina Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience Act, SB 256) which support financing clean-energy upgrades, including lighting.

What This Means for Commercial Lighting Projects

1. Tightened Lighting-Power Limits

With the NC code enforcing stricter limits on connected lighting power (for example, ≤ 90% of the lighting-power allowance) you’ll need to plan lighting systems more carefully. That means: efficient fixtures, controls, and proper layout.

If you simply replace old fixtures without revisiting the electrical plan, you could run into non-compliance, or worse: overdrawn circuits, higher energy bills, and reduced lifespan of drivers and controls.

2. Controls and Scheduled Lighting Systems

Newer codes emphasize automatic lighting control, daylighting zones, occupancy sensors and dimming. For example, NC’s provisions for “lighting, digital controls” and “off-hour control” show up in the NCECC.

From a lighting-electrical standpoint, this means your control wiring, panel design, and even network connections should be considered part of the lighting-upgrade process, not an add-on.

3. Future-Proofed Electrical Infrastructure

Especially in growth markets like the Carolinas, projects often include expanded capacity (e.g., EV chargers, smart building systems). With tighter energy codes, lighting systems must play nicely with other loads.

If the service panel, circuits, or wiring aren’t sized or planned correctly, you risk nuisance breaker trips, flicker, and premature failure of lighting or controls.

Designing lighting and power together, with an eye on 2026-code compliance, gives you an edge.

4. Documentation & Verification

Codes like the NCECC require compliance documentation. For example, lighting-power calculations, control system schedules, and photometric reports. For large commercial properties, code officials or third-party reviewers may ask for proof that lighting upgrades meet the newer standards.

Working with a lighting-electrical partner who handles design, fixture selection, controls, and power means you’ll be ready for those requests.

What Businesses Should Do Now (Checklist)

To prepare for 2026 code changes and make lighting projects smoother, here are the steps we recommend:

Review upcoming projects: If you’re planning a lighting upgrade in NC, target compliance with the 2024 NCECC (effective July 1, 2025) so you are ahead of the curve.
Audit existing panels and wiring: Before fixtures go in, check panel capacity, circuit balance, and load.
Choose efficient lighting + controls: Go with LED, dimming, automatic sensors, and layout designs aligned with code limits.
Plan for integrated loads: If you’re adding EV chargers, smart systems, or other major electrical loads, ensure lighting is part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Keep documentation ready: Photometric reports, lighting-power worksheets, and control schedules all help demonstrate compliance.
Partner with the right experts: A qualified lighting-electrical contractor that understands both sides ensures that design, installation, and code compliance are done together.

Preparing Your Facility for What’s Next

The lighting landscape in the Carolinas is evolving. For commercial lighting projects, from offices and retail stores to industrial facilities and exterior lighting, the electrical system behind every fixture matters more than ever.

Codes moving toward more efficient, controlled, and measurable lighting mean that teams who only swap lamps will be left behind.

At Southern Lighting Services, we combine lighting design, electrical expertise and project experience to navigate these changes and help you get ahead in 2026. Because lighting isn’t just about visibility, it’s about performance, compliance and future-proofing your facility.