Smart $aver® Eligibility and FAQs

These are energy efficiency ratings. The higher the number, the less energy the system uses. Make sure the unit you purchase has a SEER/EER rating certified by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). See the links at the top of this page in the right column for more information on SEER and ARI.

The electric fan in your indoor furnace is responsible for a good portion of your electric heating costs. Older, standard furnace fans use much more energy than new energy efficient ECM fan motors. Sometimes called a “variable speed” fan, an ECM fan also offers many other features for added comfort in your home. An ECM fan motor on your indoor furnace is required for each qualifying air conditioner or heat pump.

Heating contractors who have completed Duke Energy’s Participating Heating Dealer sign-up form are eligible to offer the Smart Saver program including customer rebates. Participating Dealers will complete your Incentive Application and be familiar with all other program requirements.

Duke Energy recommends that your HVAC technician have a current heat pump certification with Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) or North American Technician Excellence (NATE). Heating systems installed by a heat pump certified technician helps to ensure maximum efficiency, comfort, and reliability.

Exposed ductwork in your attic or garage can lose up to 50% of the energy supplied by your heating and cooling system. Ask your heating dealer where your ducts are located. If they are in an unconditioned area such as the attic, we recommend you or your contractor cover these ducts with at least six inches of insulation.

A new gas furnace will not qualify for a rebate but if you are also purchasing a new air conditioner, you should consider a new, high efficiency heat pump. Instead of buying an air conditioner, purchase an “add-on” heat pump, and use it with your gas or oil furnace. There is no heating technology that is more efficient than the heat pump during most winter temperatures. In a dual-fuel system, the energy saving heat pump is used for 60% or more of your total heating load and your gas or oil furnace, which costs more to operate, is used only on the coldest days.

Open this link for Estimated Smart Saver Savings. Savings are illustrative only; Duke Energy does not guarantee savings.

If you'd like additional information on how much you may save with a new Smart Saver heating system, see the following. Our Personalized Energy Report (PER)™ provides estimated energy savings if you upgrade your heating system or air conditioner. A more detailed discussion on the heating costs for your home can be found at Heating Costs & Comparisons. This site also contains links to current fuel rates and heating cost estimates for most common heating systems.

Your Participating Heating Dealer will submit your Incentive Application for you and will provide the necessary details that will allow your new system to qualify.

There is not a separate rate tariff for electric heat customers. However, Duke Energy’s current residential rate includes a lower rate step after a certain amount of electricity is used each month. In an average home, most electric heating will occur in this lowest rate step. This lower cost per kWh for heating has been used in the above link for Estimated Smart Saver Savings.

The following residential refrigeration technologies qualify for incentives assuming the matched components achieve 14 SEER, can be verified with an AHRI reference number and include an ECM fan motor for the home’s air distribution system: Heat Pump (HP) or AC split systems, HP or AC single package (self contained) systems, geothermal heat pumps including direct geoexchange systems.

The following systems do not qualify for incentives regardless of the size of unit or the efficiency - Through the wall room HP or AC, Window HP or AC, Mini Split HP or AC, Portable HP or AC, and Evaporative AC.