March 25, 2025
How to Use the Duke Energy EV Charger Rebate to Charge at Home for Less
7 Min. Read
Duke Energy provides electricity to 8.4 million customers across six states, generating 54,800 megawatts to power homes, businesses, industries, and communities.
As one of the largest utilities in the U.S., Duke Energy is leading the charge and helping to drive electrification forward with an ambitious goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
With Duke Energy’s EV charger rebate program, customers can take advantage of rebates for electric vehicle (EV) chargers in select states.
In this article, we’ll explore eligibility requirements to qualify and potential savings on EV charging solutions for Duke Energy customers.
Duke Energy EV Charger Rebate
Duke Energy offers location-based rebates and rates to make EV charging more accessible.
Let’s explore the two available EV charger rebates and specialized electrical rates that help support EV charging for Duke Energy customers.
Duke Energy Charger Prep Credit: Home Charging Incentives
Home charging is the most convenient and cost-effective way to power your EV, so it’s no surprise that nearly all EV owners prefer charging at home.
When it comes to at-home EV charging, there are 2 options available, with pretty significant differences between Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
A Level 1 EV charger uses a standard 120V outlet and requires minimal to no infrastructure updates, but only adds about 5 miles of range per hour of charging, while a Level 2 EV charger runs on a 240V circuit—often requiring professional installation by a licensed electrician—but can add 30 to 80 miles of range per hour.
For the most efficient home charging setup, upgrading to Level 2 charging is the best way to ensure your EV is ready for your daily commute. This often requires installing a dedicated 240V circuit to enable faster charging speeds and may mean also upgrading your electrical panel to safely support your EV charger.
Fortunately, Duke Energy’s Charger Prep Credit helps offset the cost of these necessary electrical upgrades for its North Carolina and South Carolina residential customers.
Before upgrading to Level 2 charging, you should consult a certified installer to perform a site inspection and assess your home’s electrical capacity to determine whether your current infrastructure can handle the additional load or if you will need to update it.
Duke Energy provides rebates of up to $1,117 or $1,755 for installation costs through its EV charger installation rebate, depending on your location.
Duke Energy EV Charger Solution: Lease & Save
Many homeowners worry about the upfront cost of installing an EV charger—but what if you could charge your EV at home with no upfront expense? With Duke Energy’s Charger Solution program, you can lease a Level 2 charger with no upfront expense.
This program offers a seamless experience and hassle-free leasing option that includes a level 2 charger, professional installation, and ongoing EV charger maintenance for a predictable monthly fee.
Available to North Carolina customers as a 36-month lease, with prices starting at $14.80 per month, and to customers in Indiana, with a lease term of 48 months and prices beginning at $17.95 a month, this solution makes home charging simple and cost-effective.
Monthly pricing goes up if you opt for an EV charger with more amperage. If you’re not sure how much amperage you need, an EV installer can help you determine the best charger and solution for your needs.
If you live outside of these states, don’t worry because Duke Energy still offers other options for EV charger financing to help reduce the upfront cost of going electric.
EV Charging Credits and Time-Of-Use (TOU) Rates
As EV adoption grows and more homes and businesses install chargers, energy demand rises, putting strain on the power grid. Duke Energy provides a solution to ease this strain while helping you save money.
Off-Peak EV Charging
To help combat increasing grid strain as EV adoption rises, Duke Energy offers an off-peak energy credit to encourage EV owners to shift their charging away from peak usage times.
In Florida, Duke Energy offers a $7.50 monthly credit if you avoid charging between the on-peak times of 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. However, if you need a charge during peak hours, you can still remain eligible for the credit if you only charge twice per month during these higher-demand times.
Duke Energy used to offer a similar program in Indiana where EV owners could get a $50 prepaid card at the end of each quarter for not charging from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. This program has since ended, but keep an eye on future offers from the utility since more off-peak credits might become available.
Time-Of-Use EV Charging
Time-of-use (TOU) charging is similar to off-peak charging credits, but instead of getting a reward for shifting your EV charging, you benefit from a lower rate. In fact, you can receive a lower rate for your entire electric load, including EV charging, helping you save significantly by multiplying the savings when you spread out your electricity usage and avoid on-peak periods.
Duke Energy offers TOU electricity rates in three states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.
North and South Carolina share the same TOU schedule. Discount hours, which are when you’ll save the most, last from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. between October and April. From May to September, discount hours are in effect from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
On-peak hours, which cost the most, start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. from May to September. From October through April, these hours last from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The off-peak rate applies outside of these hours and during weekends and holidays.
The on-peak, off-peak, and discount rates vary from one state to another.
North Carolina Time-of-Use Rates
In North Carolina, Energy Carolinas customers will pay $0.05 during discount periods, $0.07 per kWh during off-peak hours, and $0.16 per kWh during on-peak times. Duke Energy Progress North Carolina customers can choose between two plans.
The first one is a simple time-of-use plan with rates of $0.07, $0.10, and $0.28 per kWh. The second one introduces demand charges into the equation. The rates are lower at $0.04, $0.06, and $0.14 per kWh, but you’ll pay $1.95 per on-peak kW.
South Carolina Time-of-Use Rates
In South Carolina, Energy Carolinas customers can enroll in a time-of-use program with discount rates of $0.04 per kWh, off-peak rates of $0.08 per kWh, and on-peak pricing of $0.18 per kWh.
Duke Energy Progress South Carolina offers a time-of-use plan with demand charges, where depending on the time of day, you’ll pay either $0.07, $0.07, or $0.17 per kWh. Similar to the plan available to North Carolina customers, you’ll also pay a demand charge of $2.13 per on-peak kW.
Florida Time-of-Use Rates
Time-of-use billing is also available in Florida under a different schedule.
Discount hours last from midnight to 3 a.m. from December to February and midnight to 6 a.m. outside of these months, costing $0.035 per kWh.
The on-peak rate of $0.04 per kWh is effective from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. from December to February. From March to November, you’ll pay the utility’s on-peak rate from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Outside these hours, on holidays, and during weekends, you’ll pay the off-peak price of $0.039 per kWh.
For a complete overview of residential and business EV programs available in your state, visit Duke Energy and select your location.
At-Home EV Charger Installation with Qmerit
Don’t see any Duke Energy programs available in your area? You can still save on your EV and EV charger installation! Explore EV charging rebates and tax credits available at the state and federal levels to save more on your EV adoption.
Whether you’re taking advantage of a Duke Energy EV charger rebate or not, you can count on Qmerit to deliver high-quality home EV charger installation at a great price.
As the largest network of certified EV charger installers in North America, Qmerit is the most trusted EV charger installation partner recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike.
But don’t just take our word for it. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, Qmerit’s experienced network of certified electricians has installed more than 770,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada!
Complete our online EV assessment or contact us today to find out why we’re North America’s most trusted EV charger installation service provider!
