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Duke Energy income-qualified programs (North Carolina) open

Administered by Duke Energy, with the NC Community Action Association and local agencies.

Duke Energy funds free weatherization in North Carolina through local agencies for customers under 200% of the poverty line or on SNAP, WIC or LIHEAP, including heating and cooling replacement worth up to $8,000 and a refrigerator up to $1,500 per home, plus the Helping Home Fund's repairs and Neighborhood Energy Saver's upgrades in selected neighborhoods. Its High Energy Usage pilot has closed.

source · verified 27 September 2026 · amounts in US dollars

What it pays

What the agencies can spend, free to you
Program and upgradeUp to
Weatherization: heating and cooling system replacement$8,000
Weatherization: refrigerator replacement$1,500
Helping Home Fund: heating and cooling repair$800

The programs

  • Income-qualified weatherization: air and duct sealing, insulation, lighting, heating and cooling tune-up, repair or replacement, refrigerators, health and safety repairs
  • Helping Home Fund: health and safety repairs, appliance replacement (refrigerators, washers, room air conditioners) and heating and cooling repair
  • Neighborhood Energy Saver: free products, then insulation, sealing and, since 2025, doors, windows, HVAC and water heaters, by invitation in selected neighborhoods
  • Income-qualified Power Manager: a free smart thermostat and up to $150 in bill credits for past participants with electric heat

The $8,000 and $1,500 caps are from Duke's February 2025 announcement, raised from $6,000 and $1,000.

Who is eligible

2026 income limits (200% of the federal poverty guidelines, Duke's table)
People in householdAnnual income
1$31,920
2$43,280
3$54,640
4$66,000
5$77,360
6$88,720
7$100,080
8$111,440
9$117,120
10$122,800
automatic
Approval for SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP or another government assistance program.
homes
Single-family homes and apartments; owners, and renters with the owner's approval (Duke's page).
Neighborhood Energy Saver
Invitation only, by postcard or letter, in census-defined communities Duke selects.

Where the application goes

Through the local agency for your county, listed by the NC Community Action Association.

Where the application goes
If this is youApply here
Find your agencynccaa.net
Helping Home Fundduke-energy.com

The thing most pages get wrong

Duke and the agency that runs its weatherization disagree about renters. Duke's page says owners and renters with owner approval. The NC Community Action Association's page says so at the top and, lower down, that renters get refrigerator replacement only. Its income list also gives nine- and ten-person figures that belong one size up ($122,800 and $134,160; Duke's own table has $117,120 and $122,800).

A closed pilot, still promoted

Duke's High Energy Usage Assistance pilot for Forsyth, Guilford and Mecklenburg is no longer accepting applicants. Duke's income-qualified page still invites people to check eligibility for free heating and cooling upgrades, Greensboro lists it as a resource, and Charlotte counts past participation as a route into its repair program.

Sources