Vote Solar Recommends Solution in Duke’s Resource Plan to Lower Energy Costs
Adopting Clean Energy Resources is the Key to Fixing Skyrocketing Energy Bills in North Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2026
Raleigh, North Carolina– Vote Solar submitted expert witness testimony responding to Duke’s Carbon Plan Integrated Resource Plan (CPIRP) draft with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The resource plan, which Duke is required to file once every two years, outlines the utility’s plan to supply household energy needs and meet the state’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Duke’s plan currently overlooks Behind-the-Meter (BTM) energy storage – like home batteries – which can lower electricity bills and make the grid more reliable.
Duke failed to account for the growing success of residential solar paired with batteries.
Witness testimony submitted by Vote Solar makes the case that when solar is paired with storage, it can reduce peak demand by over 80%— a benefit Duke does not currently include in its analysis. Additionally, when Duke’s own modeling tool is allowed to select a virtual power plant program using distributed batteries, it consistently chooses that option in every scenario examined. In some cases, this can help defer building new gas plants.
“Solar and storage is the fastest, most affordable solution to help North Carolina meet its growing energy demand— all while lowering energy costs for all communities, even for those without solar,” said Jake Duncan, Vote Solar’s Southeast Senior Regulatory Director. “If we’re able to incorporate more localized, clean energy, this resource plan can be the smart plan that builds the foundation of a fair and sustainable energy system that works for everyone.”
For households, adding a battery saves money and provides backup power during outages. For Duke, the battery helps move daytime solar to evenings and mornings, which is important to reducing peak demand. Vote Solar found there could be over 400 MW of behind-the-meter storage on Duke’s system by 2035 that Duke left on the table by not incorporating storage. As a result, Duke may be overestimating winter peak demand—which could lead to unnecessary investments in costly gas combustion turbines. Those costs are ultimately passed on to customers through higher energy bills.
“North Carolinians shouldn’t feel uneasy about their energy bills. There are more affordable solutions available,” said Duncan. “We urge the Commission to consider the real impacts unsteady gas prices have on households and choose a path that encourages affordable, clean energy like solar.”
The North Carolina Utility Commission will hold an evidentiary hearing on the resource plan in June and is expected to issue an Order by the end of the year. Vote Solar has intervened in this proceeding along with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Sierra Club, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center.
About Vote Solar
Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance state-level policies that make solar solutions accessible to all. Since 2002, Vote Solar has worked to build an equitable clean energy future by leveraging deep policy expertise, strategic partnerships, and public engagement. In the face of powerful opposition, Vote Solar champions bold solutions that expand clean energy access, drive investment in frontline communities, and accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy.