Progress Energy Carolinas - SunSense Commercial Solar Water Heating Incentive Program

December 14, 2012

Summary

Progress Energy Carolinas (PEC) is offering an incentive for their non-residential customers in North Carolina and South Carolina to install solar water heating systems. PEC will pay $20 for each renewable energy credit (RECs*) generated by the solar water heating system for a period of 10 years. One REC represents one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity produced (or in the case of solar water heating, one MWh avoided) by a renewable energy source. North Carolina utilities are subject to the state's Renewables and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS). Utilities can demonstrate compliance with the REPS by purchasing RECs. Purchasing RECs from their commercial customers' solar water heating systems will help PEC meet the requirements of the REPS.

To be eligible for the incentive, roof mounted solar water heating systems must be installed in North Carolina or South Carolina on real property owned by a non-residential customer of PEC, and must have between 1,200 and 4,000 square feet of collector area (roughly 30 to 100 solar thermal panels). Systems owned and operated by a third-party on a PEC customer's property are also eligible for the incentive. All systems must be installed by a qualified solar installer. To participate, PEC customers must first submit an application. PEC maintains sole discretion to accept, accept with conditions, or reject any application for any reason. If the application is approved, PEC will provide the applicant with a program contract. Customers must install a BTU meter on the system and provide monthly readings to PEC for payment.


*One REC is equivalent to 3,412,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs)

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: Utility
Category: Financial Incentive
State: South Carolina
Incentive Type: Performance-Based Incentive
Web Site: https://www.progress-energy.com/carolinas/business/save-energy-money/sunsense/solar-water-heating.page
Administrator: Progress Energy Carolinas
Start Date: 7/6/2009
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar Water Heat
Incentive Amount: $20/MWh equivalent (3,412,000 BTUs) for 10 years

Contact

Name: Commercial Solar Water Heating Program
Organization: Progress Energy Carolinas
Address: PO Box 1981 TPP 8
Raleigh NC 27601-1981
Email: PECbizsolar@pgnmail.com

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.