PowerPair Pilot: Duke Energy's $9,000 Solar & Battery Incentive Program in NC

Duke Energy has signed up over 1,300 customers in North Carolina for its new PowerPairSM pilot program, which aims to make home solar and battery systems more accessible by offering a one-time financial incentive. The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved the program in January 2024, and it was launched in May 2024. Residential customers who install a new solar plus battery system can receive up to $9,000 in incentives, with the total amount depending on the capacity of the installed system. The PowerPair program was developed in collaboration with various stakeholder groups under the guidance of the NCUC. 

"North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation for overall solar power, with approximately 45,000 Duke Energy customers generating about 350 megawatts through solar panels," said Meghan Dewey, Duke Energy's vice president of products and services. "PowerPair is a great opportunity for customers who are ready to invest in solar plus storage for their homes. It’s just one of the ways we’re helping our customers save energy and money while exploring new methods for managing low-carbon grids in the future." 

The pilot program offers participants the choice between enrolling in the PowerPair under a residential solar choice rider (RSC) or a net metering bridge rider (NMB), with the potential to receive up to $9,000 as a one-time incentive. NMB participants can also sign up for Duke Energy’s new Power Manager® and EnergyWise Home® battery option, which provides additional monthly bill credits in exchange for allowing the company to temporarily adjust their battery system’s settings to supply stored electricity back to the grid, benefiting all customers. 

"Duke Energy is fully committed to advancing our solar rebate programs to meet the growing demand for paired solar and battery systems," Dewey added. "PowerPair is already proving popular with customers, and our team is working diligently on developing future innovative solar and battery storage offerings." 

The PowerPair pilot program still has capacity and is accepting new applications. Customers can find the list of approved battery vendors and information on eligible equipment at duke-energy.com/PowerPair. To participate, customers must work with a Duke Energy Trade Ally, an approved installer for solar and battery systems.