On Friday, January 12, 2024, the North Carolina Utilities Commission passed the PowerPair program for Duke Energy customers who want to combine the savings of solar power with the reliability and security of backup battery storage. Participating North Carolina customers may earn one-time installation incentives when they have a Duke Energy Trade Ally install a qualified solar + battery system.
Yes Solar is a Duke Trade Ally and was one of the three companies to work with Duke Energy on establishing the PowerPair program and the Residential Bridge Rate rider.
The PowerPair program may provide incentives up to $9,000. EnergyWise Home/ Power Manager Battery Control offers an additional monetary incentive of $6.50/kW per month (only available for participants enrolled in the Net Metering Bridge Rider) to let Duke Energy adjust your battery control operating settings and utilize electricity stored on your battery between 30-36 times per year.
A signal will be sent to enrolled batteries at a specific time by Duke Energy to temporarily adjust the system’s operating settings (charge, discharge, hold state of charge, return to normal operations, change of mode, and store energy) and provide stored electricity back to the grid. (Duke Energy would not discharge the battery below a 20% state of charge.)
PowerPair Incentives:
- Solar Incentive: $.36/watt for solar panels, capped at $3,600 per residence.
- Battery Incentive: $400/kWh for battery storage, capped at $5,400 per residence.
- Battery Control Incentive: $6.50/kW per month, approximately $40 per month, or $480 per year. (Only available for participants enrolled in the Net Metering Bridge Rider.)
All program participants are required to select net energy metering (NEM), as their electric tariff. Eligible applications are then entered into a random selection process using analytical software to assign each application a place in line. The program capacity of 60,000 kWs will be split equally between customers who selected the Net Metering Bridge Rider and the Residential Solar Choice Rider at the point of applying for interconnection.
Residential Solar Choice Rider
- Participants must enroll in the Successor Tariff with mandatory TOU rates. *
- Participants retain complete control of the energy storage device.
- Participants will receive the upfront solar + storage incentive payment only.
*This is the only option for anyone going solar after 2027.
Net Metering Bridge Rider + EnergyWise Home/ Power Manager Battery Control
- Participants must enroll in the Net Metering Bridge Rider with optional TOU rates.
- Participants must participate in the EnergyWise Home/ Power Manager Battery Control. Duke Energy may adjust your battery control operating settings and utilize electricity stored on your battery between 30-36 times per year.
- Participants will receive the upfront incentive payments + monthly battery control incentive payments ($6.50/kW per month).
EnergyWise Home/ Power Manager Battery Control
Duke Energy may adjust your battery control operating settings and utilize electricity stored on your battery between 30-36 times per year.
- Up to 18 times per winter season (December-March)
- Up to 9 times per summer season (May-September)
- Up to 9 times in the remaining months
A signal will be sent to enrolled batteries at a specific time by Duke Energy to temporarily adjust the system’s operating settings (charge, discharge, hold state of charge, return to normal operations, change of mode, and store energy) and provide stored electricity back to the grid. (Duke Energy would not discharge the battery below a 20% state of charge.)
Customers can use their batteries outside of the ‘control event’ window.
PowerPair Rebate Eligibility:
- Applicant must be a Duke Energy North Carolina customer (DEC or DEP) and own the premises.
- The installed equipment must comply with interconnection standards and maintain Internet connectivity to provide required operation and operating characteristic data.
- The Duke Energy PowerPair incentive is for solar + storage projects only. (There are no “solar only” incentives through Duke Energy).
- The application must be for a new solar system install (no solar system additions are considered).
- Applicants cannot have reached commercial operation more than 90 days before applying and must reach commercial operation within 270 days after receiving a rebate reservation.
- An Interconnection Approval (ICA) must be submitted before an incentive program application.
- All program participants are required to select net energy metering (NEM), as their electric tariff.
- The equipment must be installed by a Duke Energy trade ally and will be subject to inspection and verification upon request by Duke Energy.
- Maximum export to the grid from the customer’s energy system, including but not limited to installed equipment, must not exceed 20 kW-AC at any time.
- Customers must install a program-eligible system(s). See the full list of eligible equipment here
- The installer must be Duke Energy Progress-approved prior to applying for a PowerPair incentive for the installed equipment.
We recommend visiting duke-energy.com/powerpair to view the full eligibility requirements.
Length and Capacity of Program:
- Customers may initially apply for the rebate during a four-week application period from May 10th to June 7th, 2024.
- Eligible applications are then entered into a random selection process using analytical software to assign each application a place in line.
- Accepted applicants will be notified on June 20th, 2024. A second application window will open starting June 21, 2024, until capacity is reached or the 3-year enrollment period ends.
- Applications that do not make it within the 60,000 kW cap will be placed on a waiting list on a first-come, first-served order.
- The program capacity of 60,000 kWs will be split equally between customers who selected the Net Metering Bridge Rider and the Residential Solar Choice Rider at the point of applying for interconnection.
- As directed, participants would be required to participate in the program for at least ten years or there would be an early termination charge; See Clawback Provisions.
- Customers would be allowed to switch riders after 24 months, subject to availability.
PowerPair Clawback Provisions:
Participants are required to participate in the program for at least ten years. Duke Energy’s PowerPair incentive has the following clawback provisions.
- Early Termination Fee: Unless termination is for good cause, such as a circumstance beyond the control of the participant, an early termination fee will be assessed to any project removed from the Program before the term and will be prorated based on the months remaining and the total incentive amount paid.
- Inoperable equipment charge: This charge will be a monthly proration of the total incentive payment and will be assessed each month following a 90-day grace period. Systems inoperable for 12- months straight after the 90-day grace period will be removed from the Program and have the early termination fee assessed.
Yes Solar Solution has been working closely to monitor the latest developments and our team of Energy Specialist will determine what it takes for you to qualify for this program.