Duke Energy Incentives in North Carolina
Leverage incentives to reduce your cost to acquire backup power.
Fortress Power VPP programs in North Carolina are powered by Duke Energy


Duke Energy’s incentives programs offer financial incentives to North Carolina homeowners who install both rooftop solar panels and/or battery storage systems. These incentives can almost fully cover the cost adding a battery system to your solar array. These programs aim to promote renewable energy adoption and enhance grid reliability by using clean, reenable energy stored in battery systems instead of traditional power plants.
Receive an upfront incentive of up to $9,000 when you install a Fortress Power system with Duke Energy’s PowerPair program. Add monthly bill credits for 10 years with Duke Energy’s battery control programs, Power Manager in Duke Energy Carolinas and EnergyWise® in Duke Energy Progress. Power Manager and EnergyWise® offer the same bill credits. Customers can sign up for either the upfront incentive, monthly credits, or combine to maximize savings.
By integrating solar and battery systems, participants can reduce their reliance on the grid, lower energy bills, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future. The program not only supports individual energy independence but also aids in stabilizing the broader electrical grid by managing demand and supply more effectively. Not to mention, Fortress Power systems offer the highest annual potential bill credit in the entire program.
How to Participate
Select an installer that is a Duke Energy Trade Ally. The installer must be Duke Energy-approved prior to submitting an application for a PowerPair incentive for the installed equipment.
You and your Trade Ally installer will complete the PowerPair application to reserve your upfront incentive. Duke Energy will review the application to verify your system’s eligibility and the program’s available capacity.
Select Data Only (upfront incentive only) or add a Battery Control program to receive the monthly incentive.
All Fortress Power residential batteries are on the Eligible Battery List, and must be paired with a Fortress Power inverter and the Guardian Gateway to remit information back to Duke Energy.
Either you or your Trade Ally installer can enroll via the Fortress Power website.
Once your system is operational and all eligibility requirements have been verified, Duke Energy will issue an upfront incentive. You should receive the payment from Duke Energy within 10 weeks of enrollment.
If you enrolled in EnergyWise® or Power Manager programs, the monthly credits will start within two bill cycles of enrollment. Any energy exported will also receive net metering credits.
Combine that with the corresponding Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to maximize your savings!
Program Benefits
Upfront incentives reduce the cost to you after installation. Duke Energy homeowners can receive up to $3,600 for solar and up to $5,400 for battery systems when installed together, making a total of $9,000 in upfront incentives available.
Performance incentives are paid via a monthly bill credit based on battery power rating. Fortress Power systems offer the highest annual potential bill credit in the entire program.
For example, select an eForce 19.2 to collect $55 per month.
Extra batteries can be added but the incentives are capped by the residential Interconnection limit of 20 kW.
You may also qualify for a Federal Tax Investment Credit (ITC). Consult with a tax advisor on eligibility requirements.
Unlike generators that run on fossil fuels, batteries are a cleaner, quieter option for powering your home during an outage.
How the Program Works Once Your System is Installed
System Monitoring
The battery storage system needs to be installed in a location with an internet service so Duke Energy can monitor your system. The Guardian Gateway is required to program communications. You can see the same information using our mobile app.
Battery Dispatch
Duke Energy will dispatch energy from your battery to help reduce peak electricity demand when the grid is stressed. There will be up to 36 discharge events per year, with a minimum of 30 events.
November – March: 18 events
April – October: 18 events
Customers may opt out of four events per year.
Incentives
Participating customers receive an upfront incentive to reduce the battery’s cost. Additionally, performance-based incentives are paid via monthly bill credits based on average energy contributions to the grid.
Explore Example Systems and Their Savings Potential
Each Fortress Power system is designed to provide reliable backup power while maximizing financial incentives. Below, you’ll find example setups showcasing different energy storage solutions, along with their estimated savings based on kW shared, upfront incentives, and the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Each example includes the system’s MSRP and the percentage of costs covered after the first year, helping you see the real financial benefits of energy storage. Additional systems are also eligible, please contact us for further details.

The Johnston Family was tired of the high utility bills and grid instability in Wilmington, NC. They paired a Fortress Power 48V system with their solar panels and took advantage of multiple incentives and rebates.
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System Installed
eForce 19.2kWh with a 12kW Envy Inverter and Guardian Monitor
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MSRP
$17,639
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Upfront Incentives + Federal Investment Tax Credit
$9,000 + $5,292
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Costs Covered After First Year
85%
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Performance Incentives
$6,640 over a ten-year period ($55/month)
Eligibilty
- Duke Energy Progress or Duke Energy Carolinas customer
- The customer must be installing eligible equipment for the first time to qualify for the PowerPair incentive.
- The installed equipment must comply with interconnection standards and maintain Internet connectivity to provide required operation and operating characteristic data.
- Maintain a reliable internet connection.
- Own the following hardware:

Fortress Power Envy Inverters

Fortress Power eForce Batteries*
* When paired with an Envy inverter and Guardian Monitor
Also eligible:
- eFlex Max*
- eVault*
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