Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers in both North Carolina and South Carolina can enroll in the Residential Service Time-of-Use rate (RS-TOU). The rate splits the day into on-peak, off-peak, and discount windows. From May through September the on-peak window is 6 to 9 pm on weekdays, when usage costs the most. From October through April the on-peak window shifts to 6 to 9 am. Owners who can shift overnight EV charging to the off-peak or discount hours typically come out ahead on this rate; households that cannot shift away from the early-evening window in summer often pay more than on the standard residential rate.

The Charger Prep Credit is the rebate residential and business customers actually use. For North Carolina homes the credit is up to about $1,133 for the electrical work needed to support a Level 2 or DC fast charger, such as new wiring, conduit, panel upgrades, and outlets; the South Carolina residential amount is separately approved by the PSCSC and is pending tariff verification. The charger hardware itself is excluded in both states. Commercial and multifamily sites use the same program with higher tiers, from about $725 for a workplace Level 2 port up to about $30,347 for a transit-bus DC fast charger. Either path stacks with the TOU rate.

Duke Energy Carolinas operates in two states and that distinction matters in practice. North Carolina rates and pilots are approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission; South Carolina rates and pilots are approved by the South Carolina Public Service Commission. The EV charger rental program and the EV Complete Home Charging Plan managed-charging pilot were approved in North Carolina only at launch. South Carolina customers can use the Charger Prep Credit and the TOU rate but cannot enroll in the NC-only programs.