Duke Energy Charger Prep Credit in Wake Forest: How to Claim Up to $1,117
Updated 2026-10-17 · Wake Forest, NC
- $1,117
- Program maximum
- ~$970
- Typical install gets back
- 120 days
- To apply after install
Do you qualify?
- You own the home, and the EV (fully electric or plug-in hybrid) is registered to your Duke Energy account address
- Work done by a licensed electrician, with an approved permit
- Apply within 120 days of the latest invoice or the EV registration date
- One credit per EV registered to the address
Wake Forest homes on Wake Forest Power or Wake Electric aren't eligible. Check which electric company serves you.
What it pays for
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Conduit, wiring and 240V outlets supplying the charger | EV charger hardware |
| Breaker installation and panel upgrades | Charger mounting and commissioning |
| Labor for that work | Pulling permits and permit fees |
| Service upgrades on Duke's side of the meter (rarely needed; may fall under Duke's Line Extension Plan) |
On a typical $1,200 Wake Forest install, about $970 is qualifying wiring and panel work. A panel upgrade can push a job to the full $1,117.
Is it still open?
Yes. The credit is still taking applications for work done on or after May 19, 2022. The June 30, 2026 deadline many owners have heard about was for the federal 30C tax credit, which has ended. Duke's credit is separate.
How to claim it
- Have a licensed electrician do the work and close the permit.
- Gather: ev registration showing your duke account address; paid, itemized invoice: materials and labor as separate lines, permit as its own line, contractor name, address and phone; copy of the approved permit.
- Apply online within 120 days.
- Apply online; if approved, Duke's vendor (Blackhawk) mails a check within 30 days.
Duke's step-by-step application guide (PDF) ↗Duke Energy program page ↗
What owners report
- Simple installs: with the charger mounted next to the panel, many owners say the credit covered nearly everything except the permit fee and the charger itself.
- Bigger jobs: long runs, detached garages and panel work go past the credit, sometimes by a few thousand dollars.
- Invoices: applications get rejected when the invoice isn't itemized or the permit isn't its own line, so use an electrician who knows the program's format.
- Payment: you pay the electrician first; owners report the check arriving a few weeks after they applied.
- Quotes: because the credit is well known, some owners found simple jobs priced right up to it. A second quote is worth getting.
Sources
- NC Office of State Fire Marshal: State Electrical Code (2023 code on indefinite delay)
- NC OSFM: 2020 NC Electrical Code amendments (dwellings stay on the 2017 code, PDF)
- NC General Assembly: Session Law 2025-2 (PDF)
- NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors
- NC General Statutes § 87-43.1: Exemptions (owner's own property)
- 21 NCAC 18B .0303: License limits by class (PDF)
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: Charging at home
- NCACC: July 2026 county data fact sheet (vehicle registrations)
- Wake County: Permits & inspections FAQ
- Wake County: Permit fee schedule
- Wake Electric: Residential electric vehicles rate
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: Station locator
- Duke Energy: NC Charger Prep Credit
- Duke Energy: Charger Prep Credit terms and conditions (PDF)
- Duke Energy: Charger Prep Credit quick start guide (PDF)
- Duke Energy: EV Overnight Advantage
- Duke Energy Progress: Schedule R-TOU-EV (PDF)
- Utility Check: Duke Energy Progress rates
- Town of Wake Forest: Residential Service electric rate
- Town of Wake Forest: Wake Forest Power
- Town of Wake Forest: Residential permit fees
- Town of Wake Forest: Inspections FAQs
Rates and programs change. Confirm with your utility before you install.