The problem, Davis and others say, is the program’s paltry capacity, capped by law at 15 megawatts per year. “It doesn’t have to be that generous,” said Davis, who does business in both Carolinas. The 60-cents-per-A/C-watt rebate for homeowners hasn’t provoked the “gold rush” that South Carolina’s enticement once did, said Aaron Davis, the head of Firefly Solar, a Greenville, South Carolina-based rooftop firm.īut the rebate still offers a valuable incentive - especially when combined with federal tax credits and rapidly tumbling prices. Nonprofits like churches can get up to $75,000. Businesses can get up to $50,000 for ten times as many panels. Homeowners can get up to $6,000 for systems as large as 10 kilowatts, comprised of 30 to 40 panels. While North Carolina boasts the second most solar capacity in the nation, the vast majority comes in the form of large solar farms: rows and rows of ground-mounted panels, mostly on leased, rural land.Ī 2017 law has helped boost rooftop panels by requiring Duke, the state’s dominant monopoly utility, to give cash to customers who go solar. “It’s more a matter of, ‘What’s the next generation? What’s a longer-term solution?’” ‘We should have known earlier’ More people have gotten solar than would have without rebates,” said Ben Smith, regulatory counsel with the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. While the rebate program has undoubtedly made a difference - tripling Duke’s solar customers from 6,000 to 18,000 - it’s limited by law and difficult to scale. No matter what, many solar advocates say it’s time to start designing a new, more systemic means of encouraging rooftop installations. The overwhelming demand, the company’s enduring technological problems, and an award system that advantages high-speed internet connections and computer savvy have prompted regulators to consider changing the program, which runs through the end of 2022.īut just how to do that is up for debate, and rooftop installers are urging the system remain as is at least until July 7, when the company will take a second round of applications. Some applicants also reported technical troubles when they tried to click through the last crucial pages of the application.īut unlike 2020, when a wholesale website crash caused hundreds of customers to be accidentally denied, this year there appeared to be a more existential glitch: the difficult truth that far more Tar Heels wanted rebates for their rooftop panels than Duke had to hand out. Now in its fourth year, Duke’s first-come, first-served rebate program was depleted in 161 seconds.ĭuke erred when it notified thousands of unlucky customers, including Reeber, that they’d received the rebate, only to retract the offer later. At the same instant Reeber was filling out his web form, so were some 3,750 other customers, all competing for just over 800 slots. “My installer suggested it might be a good thing to do.”īut the proof was of no use. “It took me ten minutes to enter my stuff,” he said over email. No Luddite, Reeber said he cut his teeth on an IBM 1620 in 1962. 6, he logged on to Duke Energy’s website to fill out his online application for a rebate. Additional details may be found on your utility's website.On the morning of Jan. Your program details may differ based on your utility. Customers that had previously applied to join the program, prior to November 13, 2020, are enrolled in the summer season only and will not be participating in winter events.Critical rush hour events can occur at any time of day. In the unlikely situation of a critical need on the electric grid, Duke Energy may need to call a critical rush hour event.There can be multiple rush hour events per day.Energy rush hours can occur at any time of year between 6 a.m.Rush hour events can consist of a pre-cooling period in the summer or pre-heating period in the winter to make your home more comfortable and a period of time when your energy usage is reduced. There can be multiple rush hour events throughout the year.Customers receive the same participation incentives regardless of the number of thermostats enrolled in the program. Plus, you’ll receive an additional $25 e-gift card each year you stay enrolled.* Duke Energy will give you a $75 e-gift card for signing up for Duke Energy’s Power Manager Smart Thermostat program powered by Rush Hour Rewards.
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