Duke Energy PowerPair: Up to $9,000 for Home Solar + Battery in North Carolina

Duke Energy customers in North Carolina will soon have access to rebates worth up to $9,000 for home solar and battery systems.

In May 2024, Duke Energy is opening applications to the PowerPair pilot program that offers a one-time incentive for residential solar and battery installations. Pairing solar with battery storage provides backup power during grid outages and can improve the economic benefits of home solar given the state’s recent cuts to net metering compensation.

The PowerPair pilot will be open to 60,000 kW of solar capacity which will serve a minimum of 6,000 households.

Solar incentives — especially of this magnitude — tend to run out fast. So, let’s talk through how this incentive works and how to claim it.

Duke Energy’s PowerPair Basics

At its core, the Duke Energy PowerPair program is pretty simple. First, install a qualifying solar and battery system through one of Duke Energy’s approved installers (known as “Trade Allies”). Once the system is operational Duke Energy will issue your incentive.

Which systems are eligible for PowerPair?

The incentive only applies to new solar AND battery systems. Solar-only and battery-only systems do not qualify.

• The system can be leased or owned
• The program does not limit your system size, however, a maximum of 10 kW of solar and 13.5 kWh of battery qualify for the incentive
• Upgrades to existing solar + battery systems do not qualify
• Recently installed systems are eligible if they were completed within 90 days of submitting your PowerPair application
• The system must be operational within 270 days of receiving a PowerPair reservation notice

At this time, Duke Energy has not released any equipment eligibility requirements.

Two incentive types

There are two options in the program: PowerPair and PowerPair + EnergyWise Battery Control. The key differences are:

• The rate plan
• Whether Duke Energy can remotely control the battery to help prevent power outages

How much could I save with PowerPair?

The maximum rebate amount for PowerPair is $9,000. That’s based on the following incentive amounts for solar and battery:

• 36 cents per watt of solar capacity, up to 10 kW
• $400 per kWh of battery storage capacity, up to 13.5 kWh

However, this incentive can be paired with the 30% federal solar tax credit.

So, let’s say you go for the maximum incentive with a system that costs $45,000. Here’s how PowerPair rebates combined with the 30% solar tax credit would reduce your overall cost by nearly $20,000.

You can actually increase those savings by opting into PowerPair + EnergyWise Battery Control. In this part of the program, solar and battery owners will allow Duke Energy to remotely control their battery up to 36 times per year, with a minium of 30 events, in exchange for a monthly bill credit, estimated at $30-40 per month.

Applying for PowerPair

The PowerPair application window is between May 10 and June 7, 2024. There will be a random selection process to select participants for the pilot program. If there is still program capacity after this period, the remaining incentive will be issued on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visit the PowerPair program page to sign up for program notifications.

The Bottom Line

Solar and battery allow homeowners to hedge against rising utility rates and power their homes when the grid goes down. With up to $9,000 in rebates per system, Duke Energy PowerPair program reduces the cost burden of installing solar and battery systems in North Carolina.

This incentive has limited capacity and is expected to go quickly. Connect with an Energy Advisor to make a game plan for claiming it!