Interactive Duke Energy Carolinas & Progress Payout & Bill Modeler
Sourced rates · estimates labeledTariff schedule verified 2026-11-12 against NCUC Docket No. E-2, Sub 1300 & E-7, Sub 1276.
Installer quotes sometimes multiply raw inverter kW by $6.50 and fold the $3,600 solar rebate into battery payback. This calculator isolates incremental battery cost and applies the 70.9% capability factor published in Trade Ally / manufacturer FAQs. Duke can change that factor; we cite the source on the rate table.
Official Duke Energy Carolinas & Progress Rate & Payout Schedule (2026)
| Tariff Metric / Tier | Verified Compensation / Rate | Eligibility & Dispatch Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront battery rebate (PowerPair storage) | $400/kWh usable, max 13.5 kWh = $5,400 | Requires a new paired solar system installed by a Duke Trade Ally. | Duke Energy Trade Ally PowerPair page ↗ Last verified: Nov 12, 2026 |
| Upfront solar rebate (PowerPair PV) | $0.36/W-AC, max 10 kW-AC = $3,600 | Combined PowerPair cap is $9,000 per residence. Offsets panel cost, not battery-only payback. | Duke Energy Trade Ally PowerPair page ↗ Last verified: Nov 12, 2026 |
| Monthly Battery Control credit | $6.50/kW × nameplate discharge kW × capability factor (currently 70.9%) | Factor is subject to change. 11.5 kW × $6.50 × 0.709 ≈ $53/month ($636/year). We did not find a published official cap. | Fortress Power PowerPair FAQ (states 70.9%, subject to change) ↗ Last verified: Nov 12, 2026 |
| Dispatch events | Up to 30–36 events per year; reserve typically down to 20% | Power Manager (DEC) or EnergyWise Home (DEP). Event counts can vary by season. | Fortress Power PowerPair FAQ ↗ Last verified: Nov 12, 2026 |
| TOU bill savings in this calculator | Modeled estimate, not a filed rate | The peak/off-peak cents used for the TOU tile are a modeling spread, not a copied Rider RSC tariff price. | Estimate — not taken from a filed tariff sheet Estimate Last verified: Nov 12, 2026 |
Every rate above includes a source link. Last verified: Nov 12, 2026. Rows marked Estimate are not copied from a primary tariff sheet.
The Fine-Print Catches: 4 Rules Utility Brochures Bury
The 70.9% capability factor changes the monthly credit
Raw 11.5 kW × $6.50 would be $74.75/month. Manufacturer FAQs state the credit is $6.50 × kW × a capability factor currently 70.9% (subject to change), or about $53/month ($636/year) for a Powerwall 3.
Don't Subtract the $3,600 Solar Rebate From Battery-Only Cost
PowerPair's $9,000 headline splits strictly into up to $5,400 for the battery and up to $3,600 for the solar panels. When evaluating whether adding a $14,800 battery pencils out, only the $5,400 battery rebate reduces the storage add-on price.
90-Day Trade Ally Mandate & 30,000 kW-AC Cap
A Duke-approved Trade Ally must submit your application within 90 days of Permission to Operate (PTO), and each utility territory (DEC and DEP) is capped at 30,000 kW-AC—verify open capacity tranches before signing.
Mandatory 24-Month Rider NMB / RSC Lock-In & $28 Bill Floor
PowerPair enrollment is tied to Duke interconnection riders (Net Metering Bridge or Residential Solar Choice). Confirm current rider rules, any minimum bill, and peak windows with Duke before you sign — those extras are not all filed in the same Trade Ally summary.
Whitelisted Inverters, Batteries & Enrollment Pathways
| Hardware Ecosystem | Eligible Models | How Enrollment Works | Storage / V2G Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Powerwall 3 (about $53/mo at 70.9% factor), Powerwall 2 / + | Trade Ally + Tesla App VPP prompt | Stationary storage only |
| Enphase Energy | IQ Battery 5P (2× ≈ $35/mo; 3× ≈ $53/mo at 70.9% factor — estimate from nameplate kW) | Enphase App digital application | Stationary storage only |
| FranklinWH / SolarEdge / Canadian Solar | aPower, Home Battery, EP Cube (check Trade Ally whitelist) | Duke Energy Trade Ally portal | Stationary storage only |
Worked Household Bill Math: Real-World Scenario
Charlotte, NC Homeowner — Incremental ROI of Adding 1x Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh / 11.5 kW) to Solar
1,350 kWh/month usage on Duke Energy Carolinas; isolating incremental battery cost & credits.
- Incremental battery Day-1 cost: $14,800 installed Powerwall 3 (cost is an estimate) minus $5,400 PowerPair battery rebate = $9,400 net battery cost. The separate $3,600 solar rebate offsets the panels.
- Monthly Battery Control credit: 11.5 kW × 0.709 × $6.50 = $53.00/month, or $636/year. Source: $6.50 and 70.9% factor in Trade Ally / manufacturer FAQs; the factor can change.
- TOU peak-shifting shown in the calculator is a modeled estimate, not a filed Duke tariff price, and is labeled as such.
- Cash payback on net battery cost uses the Battery Control credit plus any labeled TOU estimate, at 0% federal Section 25D (credit ended Dec 31, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions (Duke Energy Carolinas & Progress)
Why is the Battery Control credit about $636/year for a Powerwall 3 instead of $897?
The advertised $6.50/kW-month is multiplied by a capability factor. Fortress Power's PowerPair FAQ states the factor is currently 70.9% and is subject to change: 11.5 kW × $6.50 × 0.709 ≈ $53/month, or $636/year.
Can I opt out of Duke Energy Battery Control events before a hurricane?
Yes. Both Duke Energy Power Manager and EnergyWise Home suspend routine peak-shaving dispatches during severe weather alerts, allowing Storm Watch / Storm Guard to charge your battery to 100% ahead of hurricane or ice-storm warnings.
Is the 30% federal solar tax credit included in Duke PowerPair numbers?
No. The residential Section 25D 30% tax credit expired on December 31, 2025 under P.L. 119-21. Our calculator defaults to 0% federal tax credit for homeowner-owned cash/loan purchases and lets you compare 3rd-party Section 48E commercial lease pass-throughs separately.
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