Try our solar cost and savings calculator
Solar vs. grid power: how much can you save?
Electricity rates are on the rise. The U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that electricity prices in the U.S. rose 6.2% in 2023 alone.
Homeowners across the country are looking for ways to reduce their energy costs and many are turning to solar energy. But just how much can you save with solar and is it worth the investment?
Solar customers can often save tens of thousands of dollars over the lifespan of their solar system. To determine exactly how much you can save, you’ll have to do a little math.
Compare your current cost per kW from Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC with the cost per kW of your solar system. Then calculate your monthly or yearly expenses across a 25-year period. Finally, subtract your total cost of energy with solar from your total of energy from the grid to determine your savings
A simpler way to estimate your savings potential is to compare your current monthly energy costs with your projected solar payments. If your energy costs are higher than your solar payments, there is a good chance you will see savings.
At Solar Cost Calculator, we suggest that anybody paying more than $100 a month for electricity should consider solar.
What solar incentives Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC does offer?
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/business/products/smartsaver/all-smartsaver-rebates
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, Federal Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Agricultural Rebates: Vary widely Commercial Clothes Washing and Drying Equipment: $33 - $88 per unit, varies by type Commercial Cooking and Refrigeration Equipment: Varies widely by type Process Pumping: $154 per HP HVAC Equipment: $22 - $266 per ton, varies by size, type, and efficiency Cool Roofs: $0.10 per sq. ft. Window Film: $1.10 per sq. ft. Roof Insulation: $0.28 per sq. ft. Wall Insulation: $1.10 per sq. ft. Efficiency Improvements for Existing Compressed Air Equipment: Varies widely by type Efficiency Improvements for Existing Production Equipment: Varies widely by type Variable Speed Air Compressor: $82.50 per HP Process Pumping: $134 - $440 per pump, varies by type and HP DeLamping: $2.20 - $13.00 per lamp Lighting: Varies widely by type
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/business/products/park-and-plug/electric-school-buses
Applicable Sectors : Schools
Incentive Amount : Electric School Buses: Up to $215,000 per vehicle
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/improve-and-save
Applicable Sectors : Residential, Low Income Residential
Incentive Amount :
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/powerpair
Applicable Sectors : Residential
Incentive Amount : PV: $0.36/watt-AC Battery Storage: $400/kWh System may also qualify for monthly bill credits, see below
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/smart-saver
Applicable Sectors : Residential
Incentive Amount : Heating and Cooling Central Air Conditioner: $200 - $500 Air-Source Heat Pump: $300 - $800 Geothermal Heat Pump: $500 - $800 Heat Pump Water Heater: $350 Smart Thermostat: $50 Insulate and Seal Attic Insulation: $250 Attic Air Sealing: $250 Duct Sealing: $200 Pool Pump: $300
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/business/products/smartsaver#tab-bd1ef7f8-8e8a-440e-b0ac-6ceb84106a07
Applicable Sectors : Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Schools, Agricultural, Institutional
Incentive Amount : Lighting DeLamping: $2.20 - $13/unit Exterior Lamps and Fixtures: $2.20 - $300/unit Interior Lamps and Fixtures: $2.20 - $500/unit Fluorescents High Bay Fixtures: $40 - $154/unit Controls and Sensors: $0.03 - $47/unit HVAC Controls: $0.10 - $252 Water Saving Measures: $1.55 - $275 New High Efficiency Heating and Cooling Equipment: $9.90 - $1,100 Upgrades to Improve Operation of Existing Heating and Cooling Equipment: $1.50 - $154 Building Envelope Improvement: $0.10 - $1.10 Commercial Equipment Commercial Clothes Washing and Drying Equipment: $33 - $1,320 Commercial Dish Washing Equipment: $8 - $825 Controls Equipment: $220 Escalator Motor Efficiency Controller: $22 New High Efficiency Refrigeration Equipment: $11 - $400 Upgrades to Make Existing Refrigeration Equipment More Efficient: $1 - $179 Process Pumping: $154 Industrial Equipment Efficiency Improvements for Existing Compressed Air Equipment: $2.20 - $220 Efficiency Improvements for Existing Production Equipment: $1 - $40 New High Efficiency Compressed Air Equipment: $82.50 Process Pumping: $66 - $319 Custom Incentives See program website for details Agricultural: $1.30 - $2,906
Implementing Sector : Utility
Category : Financial Incentive
Website : https://www.duke-energy.com/home/products/smart-saver
Applicable Sectors : Residential
Incentive Amount : Heating and Cooling Central Air Conditioner: $200 - $500 Air-Source Heat Pump: $300 - $800 Geothermal Heat Pump: $500 - $800 Heat Pump Water Heater: $350 Smart Thermostat: $50 Insulate and Seal Attic Insulation: $250 Attic Air Sealing: $250 Duct Sealing: $200 Pool Pump: $300
Implementing Sector : Utility
Installing and connecting your solar system
When you install a solar system in Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC territory, these are steps you can expect to go through:
Once you’ve hired a contractor, you will need to communicate with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC to prepare the interconnection paper. Your contractor will handle most of these responsibilities
After the interconnection agreement has been finalized, your contractor can begin the installation process.
Once your system is installed, it needs to be inspected for safety and code compliance.
After the final inspection, you will receive a written notice within a few days that your system is approved to operate. You can turn on the system yourself or you can contact your installer for further assistance.
Most homeowners prefer to do it themselves. The whole process should only take 10 - 15 minutes.
Is solar worth it for Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC customers?
The short and sweet answer is a resounding YES. Going solar is definitely worth it for Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC customers. The average homeowner in _UtilityCompanyName_ can save an estimated #### over the lifespan of their solar system.
Going solar is a long game so you need to think several years ahead. It can take a few years to hit your break even period. But between net metering and solar incentives, you can drastically reduce that timeframe.
Want to get an idea for what it will cost you to go solar with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC? You can use our Solar Cost Calculator to generate a customized estimate instantly. We take into consideration a wide range of criteria including location, electric bill, roof size, and other factors. Try it out today and start planning for your future.
