Federal solar credit ended Dec 31, 2025
Sorted & Saved

Solar costs · North Carolina

Solar Panel Cost in North Carolina

Fact-checked by Sorted & Saved data desk
Updated Data verified Nov 5, 2026

A typical North Carolina home uses 1,015 kWh a month[1] of electricity. Covering that with solar takes a system of about 8.6 kW est.[1,2], which costs roughly $30,000 to $40,500 est.[1,2,3] before incentives at the state's median installed price. With North Carolina's average residential price of 14.94¢ per kWh[4], our model puts payback at about 17 years est.[1,2,3,4,5]. Your quote, roof and utility plan will move these numbers, so treat them as a starting point.

On this page [ 7 ]

North Carolina solar at a glance

Average electricity price14.94¢/kWh[4]Jan–Aug 2026 average (preliminary)
Average home use1,015 kWh/mo[1]2024 average
Solar output per kW1,416 kWh/yr[2]PVWatts estimate for Charlotte
Median installed price$4.10/W[3]Estimate, before incentives
Typical system8.6 kWSized to cover 100% of use
Typical price$35,300Estimate, before incentives
Year-1 savings$1,820Estimate
Payback17 yearsEstimate, cash purchase

Estimates use the inputs above and the assumptions in our methodology: North Carolina net metering: exports credited at the retail rate (statewide rule; your utility's tariff may differ). Prices rise 2.5% a year; panels lose 0.5% a year.

Solar cost in North Carolina by system size

Same assumptions as the typical home above; only the system size changes. Prices are the state median before incentives and include the incentives our calculator applies by default in North Carolina.

SystemPrice before incentives[3]After incentiveskWh in year 1[2]Year-1 savings[4][5]Payback (years)
4 kW$16,400$16,4005,660$85017
6 kW$24,600$24,6008,500$1,27017
8 kW$32,800$32,80011,330$1,69017
10 kW$41,000$41,00014,160$1,82018
12 kW$49,200$49,20016,990$1,82021

Incentives that lower the price in North Carolina

Federal · tax creditEnding soon

Business credit for leased and PPA systems (48E)

Claimed by the system owner, not the homeowner; solar must begin construction by July 4, 2026 or be in service by December 31, 2027[6]

If a company owns the panels on your roof (a lease or power purchase agreement), that company may claim the business clean electricity investment credit and can reflect it in your price. You cannot claim it yourself.

Who
Third-party-owned systems (leases and PPAs). Ask the provider whether the price assumes this credit.
Deadline
December 31, 2027
Checked
November 5, 2026

All North Carolina incentives, including utility and local programs →

How North Carolina utilities credit your solar

Duke Energy residential solar customers interconnecting since October 1, 2023 choose Rider RSC (time-of-use with critical peak pricing, minimum bill and non-bypassable charges) or Rider NMB; usage and exports are netted monthly by TOU period at retail, and only leftover monthly net exports are credited at the utility's avoided cost (Net Excess Energy Credit). Legacy Rider NM customers move to Rider NMB after December 31, 2026.[5]

We have not added every North Carolina utility yet, so the estimates on this page use the state-level rule: North Carolina net metering: exports credited at the retail rate (statewide rule; your utility's tariff may differ).

Full North Carolina net metering and export-credit rules →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much do solar panels cost in North Carolina?

At the state median installed price of $4.10 per watt est.[3], a 8.6 kW est.[1,2] system that covers a typical home's use costs about $35,300 est.[1,2,3] before incentives. Quotes vary with roof, equipment and installer.

How long does solar take to pay for itself in North Carolina?

For a cash purchase at the state's average electricity price of 14.94¢ per kWh[4], our model estimates about 17 years est.[1,2,3,4,5]. Your utility's export credit and rate plan matter a lot; see the export-credit table above.

Is there still a federal solar tax credit?

Not for homeowners who buy. The Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D)[7] does not apply to systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025. Leased and PPA systems are different: the company that owns the system may still claim a business credit.

sources

[ 7 ]

Every number on this page links to one of these sources. Dates show when we last checked each one.

  1. EIA Electric Sales, Revenue, and Average Price 2024, Table 5A: Residential average monthly bill by stateeia.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  2. NREL/NLR PVWatts v8 (1 kW-DC, fixed roof mount, 20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses, TMY weather)pvwatts.nlr.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  3. U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage 2026 Data Update (Barbose, Darghouth, O'Shaughnessy, Forrester), Berkeley Labeta-publications.lbl.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  4. EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B: Average price of electricity by state, year-to-date (August 2026, preliminary)eia.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  5. Net Metering | NC Public Staff - Utilities Commissionpublicstaff.nc.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  6. Public Law 119-21 - Sec. 70513(a) and (g)(5) (48E); Sec. 70512(a) and (l)(4) (45Y)govinfo.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026
  7. IRS FS-2025-05: FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W, and 179D under Public Law 119-21 (OBBB)irs.gov · checked Nov 5, 2026

State data last re-checked November 5, 2026.

Change log

  1. What the rule says updated to “Net exports will be credited at the utility's avoided cost rate each month.” (Net Metering | NC Public Staff - Utilities Commission).