North Carolina · Rebate · Deep-stack program

Duke Energy NC Solar Rebate

A direct payment toward residential solar installs in North Carolina -- see the rebate amount, eligibility, and the payback impact below.

$0.10/W installed, max $600
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
14.4 yr
North Carolina baseline payback
3
other North Carolina programs
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Deep-stack program · early directory

North Carolina runs a 4-program DSIRE stack; this rebate is one layer on a 14.4-year modeled baseline, not the whole story.

  • Stack4 programs
  • In-state #1/3
  • Type #10/19
  • Baseline14.4 yr

In-state directory place #1 of 3 (early alphabet). National rebate directory #10 of 19. Amounts and eligibility change; verify with the official program page before relying on a dollar figure. Informational only - not financial advice. See our disclaimer.

Program description

Duke Energy Carolinas and Progress offer residential solar rebates.

Program at a glance

Program type
Rebate
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
$0.10/W installed, max $600
State electricity rate
12.8¢/kWh
North Carolina solar score
33/100
Visit the official program page

Solar's trajectory in North Carolina

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in North Carolina reported to the EIA.

0 MW2.0 GW4.0 GW6.0 GW8.0 GW 2008201120142017202020232024 6.8 GW
North Carolina now has about 6.8 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

North Carolina's solar incentive stack

How this rebate sits among North Carolina's 3 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Among North Carolina's 3 tracked incentive types, 1 are rebates like this one -- a direct payment rather than a tax reduction, stacking with the state's other program types.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this rebate layers inside North Carolina's deep stack

The Duke Energy NC Solar Rebate pays out as a direct rebate rather than a tax credit, one of North Carolina's solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of $0.10/W installed, max $600. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. North Carolina averages 5.2 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 12.8¢/kWh, producing an estimated 9,110 kWh/year and $1,166 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $16,800. That baseline already implies a 14.4-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $12,350 before this incentive - every dollar this rebate delivers compresses that payback further.

North Carolina bundles a deep incentive stack, so this program rarely stands alone. North Carolina has 4 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like NC Renewable Energy Property Tax Exclusion, NC Net Metering. The state's net-metering policy is classified as full, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Duke Energy NC Solar Rebate sit in North Carolina's deep program stack?
The Duke Energy NC Solar Rebate is a rebate available to residential solar customers in North Carolina. The stated benefit is $0.10/W installed, max $600.
How does this rebate work beside North Carolina's other programs?
Duke Energy Carolinas and Progress offer residential solar rebates.
Who qualifies, and why is this an early in-state directory row?
The program is available to residential customers in North Carolina. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines. In-state directory place #1 of 3 (early alphabet).
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in North Carolina?
North Carolina has an estimated 14.4-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,166/year in modeled savings. A rebate like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Which other North Carolina programs stack with this one?
North Carolina has 4 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including NC Renewable Energy Property Tax Exclusion, NC Net Metering. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology · North Carolina solar data · ROI calculator · All incentives.