Duke Energy’s North Carolina solar rebate program has attracted significant interest from customers, with more than 1,500 applying for the incentive to install private solar systems in the first few weeks of the program’s launch, company representatives said.

“Customers are overwhelmingly embracing our rebate program and are supporting Duke Energy’s efforts to promote renewable energy in North Carolina,” said David Fountain, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “Under the Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina legislation, Duke Energy will bring a steady influx of new solar capacity to the state over the next five years.”

The rebate offering, which opened July 9 to all Duke Energy customers in the state, is part of a five-year, $62-million program designed to support customers who want to install solar systems at their homes or businesses.

As a result of the popularity of the program, there is a waiting list for the residential and nonresidential categories for 2018 capacity. Due to the first-come, first-served application rule of the program, the company is seeking permission from the North Carolina Utilities Commission to allow residential and nonresidential customers who installed systems between Jan. 1, 2018, and July 26, 2018, another opportunity to apply for the rebate program in 2019.

There is still capacity left for nonprofit customers this year.

The rebates are divided into maximum annual allotments of 20 megawatts and are on a first-come, first-served basis — depending on when the customer application is submitted.

Information for the rebate program can be found at duke-energy.com/home/products/renewable-energy/nc-solar-rebates.

– Submitted article