Duke Energy’s PowerPair program is offering a new incentive for homeowners to try solar, according to Wendy Fleener, Duke Energy’s director of clean energy.
“It is a one-time, upfront incentive designed to make the installation of solar plus battery more affordable for our customers,” Fleener said.
Through PowerPair, homeowners may receive a payment of up to $9,000 toward solar and battery installation. Federal tax incentives like the Residential Clean Energy Credit can further defray the cost.
PowerPair comes half a year after state regulators implemented Duke’s net-metering plan to reduce the amount of ongoing savings rooftop solar provides. New residential solar installations fell over 15% in 2023, ending a six-year growth streak, according to data from the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association.
Fleener says the new program is part of the utility’s strategy to balance the power book, as demand from the commercial side is predicted to increase dramatically.
“These programs also will enable us to maximize what the customers may have on their own property for our overall energy grid,” Fleener said.
The first round of PowerPair applications opens Friday and will remain open for four weeks before the random selection process begins. Duke Energy will accept applications intermittently until Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress reach their 30 megawatt capacity. A complementary “demand response” program will roll out in July that manages how stored electricity is sold back to the grid from at-home battery storage.
