Duke Energy Florida offers a $300 rebate, through its Home Energy Improvement program, for replacing an existing air conditioner with a qualifying high-efficiency system — rated at least 15.2 SEER2 / 7.5 HSPF2 (about 16 SEER). It serves much of Central and North Florida, and eligibility follows the Duke Energy Florida electric account. Combined with other home-efficiency measures, Duke's broader rebate menu can reach higher totals, but the AC replacement itself is the $300 line.
Two requirements make this program a useful teaching case for any Florida replacement. First, you must complete a free Home Energy Check within 24 months before the work (Duke allows a 12-month grace window after an emergency replacement). Second — and this is the important one — the rebate requires a complete matched-system replacement: the outdoor condenser, the air handler, and the indoor coil all changed at the same time. A cheaper condenser-only swap does not qualify.
That rule exists for the same reason the AHRI-matched system matters: a new condenser bolted onto an old, mismatched coil won't deliver the rated SEER2 efficiency the rebate is paying for. You may use any licensed, insured contractor — Duke does not lock you to a network — so get the Home Energy Check done early, confirm the AHRI Reference Number of the proposed matched system, and verify the current rebate terms with Duke before you schedule the install.