Duke Energy Smart $aver Business Rebates
Duke Energy
Prescriptive per-unit + custom incentives
Rebates for efficient business upgrades
Duke Energy's Smart $aver program pays its commercial, industrial, and agricultural electric customers cash incentives to install high-efficiency equipment. It offers two paths: prescriptive rebates (fixed dollar amounts per qualifying unit for HVAC, chillers, food-service equipment, refrigeration, lighting controls, and agricultural equipment) and custom incentives (for energy-saving projects that don't fit a prescriptive category, paid based on measured kWh savings). The program is non-competitive — any eligible business customer who installs qualifying equipment and applies on time gets paid. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of project completion. Smart $aver Business is available to Duke Energy electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, and Kentucky.
- Funding type
- Program
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- Prescriptive per-unit + custom incentives
- Realistic amount
- A typical small-business awardee installing a lighting or HVAC/refrigeration measure receive…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round; equipment must be installed before applying and applications submitted within 90 days of project completion.
- Status
- active
- States
- North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Must be a Duke Energy commercial, industrial, or agricultural electric customer in NC, SC, IN, or KY
- Account must be on the Energy Efficiency rider (most non-opted-out business rate classes qualify)
- Equipment must meet the program's efficiency specifications and be newly installed at the served facility
- Application submitted within 90 days of project completion
- Custom and some prescriptive projects require pre-approval before installation
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- High-efficiency HVAC and heat pump systems
- Chillers
- Commercial refrigeration
- Commercial food-service equipment (ovens, fryers, dishwashers)
- Lighting controls and occupancy/photocell sensors
- Agricultural equipment (dairy heat reclaimers, LED poultry lamps, engine block heater timers)
- Custom energy-saving measures evaluated on kWh savings
Ineligible expenses
- Equipment that does not meet program efficiency specifications
- Used or refurbished equipment
- Equipment at facilities not served by a qualifying Duke Energy electric account
- Projects applied for more than 90 days after completion
How to apply
-
1
Identify qualifying measures
Review the Smart $aver business rebate catalog for your state to confirm which equipment qualifies and at what prescriptive amount. For non-listed measures, the custom track applies.
~1 hrs
-
2
Reserve custom funding if needed
For custom projects (and some prescriptive ones), submit a reservation/pre-approval application before purchasing equipment so Duke holds funding for your project.
~1 hrs
-
3
Install qualifying equipment
Purchase and install the efficient equipment per program specifications, using a contractor if needed. Keep invoices and equipment spec sheets.
~1 hrs
-
4
Submit the rebate application within 90 days
Complete the online or paper Smart $aver business application with invoices, equipment details, and account number, and submit within 90 days of project completion.
~1.5 hrs
For anything beyond a simple prescriptive swap, file the custom reservation BEFORE you buy equipment — rebate funding is reserved at pre-approval, and starting work first can disqualify the project. A Duke trade-ally contractor will usually handle the paperwork for you.
Deadline & timing
No annual competition cycle. The 90-day-from-completion submission window is the binding deadline. Custom projects (and some prescriptive measures) require a pre-approval/reservation before work begins, so contact Duke before purchasing to confirm funding.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.