Solar in North Carolina: is it worth it in 2026?
North Carolina is a slow-payback state: solar works, but it takes well over a decade to earn back what you paid. Three things decide that: electricity prices rank 35th of 51, its sun ranks 20th, and exported power earns retail credit within each month, with leftovers paid less. Of the 51 states and DC, North Carolina has the 30th-fastest payback for a typical home.
The average home here pays about $146 a month for 1,044 kWh. An 8 kW system sized for that home would knock about $1,396 off the first year's bills, 80% of the total.
Checked November 12, 2026
What makes solar pay off in North Carolina
- Size the system to cover your yearly use. With monthly netting, power you export is worth nearly as much as power you use, so aim for little leftover each month.
- The price per watt decides it. At 14.0¢ per kWh, the price per watt matters as much as the sun. At $3.34 per watt, the high end of what companies quote, payback for a typical system here stretches to 18 years.
Payback by system size
An average North Carolina home uses about 12,528 kWh a year. Here's how systems sized to cover part or all of that work out, bought with cash at $2.57 per watt:
| Covers | Size | Price | Makes a year | Payback | 25-year savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51% | 4.5 kW | $11,565 | 6,372 kWh | 16 years | $10,915 |
| 73% | 6.5 kW | $16,705 | 9,204 kWh | 15 years | $16,933 |
| 102% | 9 kW | $23,130 | 12,744 kWh | 15 years | $24,412 |
| 124% | 11 kW | $28,270 | 15,576 kWh | 16 years | $24,283 |
The 6.5 kW system pays back fastest, but the 9 kW system saves the most over 25 years. Assumes exported power earns about 80% of the retail rate, prices rise 2.5% a year and one inverter replacement.
How North Carolina credits power you send to the grid
Monthly netting
Duke Energy nets exports against usage at the retail rate within each month (and each time-of-use period); what's left at month end earns about 3.4 to 4.5 cents. New solar customers pay a minimum monthly bill of $22 (Duke Energy Carolinas) or $28 (Duke Energy Progress).
By utility
- Duke Energy (North Carolina): Retail-rate netting within each month and time-of-use period; leftover power earns about 3.4 to 4.5 cents. Minimum monthly bill of $22 (Carolinas) or $28 (Progress).
Before you sign in North Carolina
Check the license. Look the company up with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license number too.
North Carolina has no solar-specific sales law that we know of, so its general consumer protection law applies.
In every state, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule lets you cancel a contract signed at your home until midnight of the third business day.
How to choose a solar company · Contract checklist · Before you sign
North Carolina compared with its neighbors
| State | Electricity | kWh per kW | Typical payback | Exported power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 14.0¢ | 1,416 | 15 years | Monthly netting |
| Virginia | 15.3¢ | 1,427 | 11 years | Full credit (net metering) |
| Tennessee | 13.2¢ | 1,338 | 24 years | No statewide rule |
| Georgia | 14.7¢ | 1,420 | 17 years | Reduced credit (net billing) |
| South Carolina | 15.1¢ | 1,454 | 13 years | Monthly netting |
Questions about solar in North Carolina
How long does solar take to pay for itself in North Carolina?
About 15 years for a typical 8 kW system bought with cash at the 2026 median price of $2.57 per watt, with no federal tax credit and one inverter replacement. A bigger or smaller system, a different price, or your own usage will change that; the table above shows other sizes.
Does North Carolina have net metering?
Partly. Duke Energy nets exports against usage at the retail rate within each month (and each time-of-use period); what's left at month end earns about 3.4 to 4.5 cents. New solar customers pay a minimum monthly bill of $22 (Duke Energy Carolinas) or $28 (Duke Energy Progress).
Is there a solar tax credit in North Carolina in 2026?
Not from the federal government for buyers: the 30% homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. For a typical 8 kW system in North Carolina, that credit was worth about $6,168 and brought payback down to 10 years, instead of 15 years now. Leasing companies can still claim a business credit, so ask for a lease or PPA price too. Your state energy office lists any state rebates.
Is a solar battery worth it in North Carolina?
On bill savings alone, not quite: a 13.5 kWh battery at about $15,650 would move about 3,548 kWh of solar power a year from the grid to your evenings in a typical North Carolina home, adding about $854 of savings over 15 years. That doesn't cover its price, so the system's payback goes from 15 years to 22 years; the rest is paying for backup during outages. Time-of-use rates, battery rebates and utility payments for sharing your battery can tip it; try your numbers in the payback calculator.
Is plug-in solar legal in North Carolina?
Not yet. A bill (H 1129 / S 957) is pending: in committee.
How do I check a solar company's license in North Carolina?
Look the company up with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (nclbgc.org) by its legal name or license number, and ask for the electrician's license too.
More guides: What changed for solar in 2026 · Lease or buy? · Plug-in solar · Is my solar system working?
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), final 2025 data: Annual State Historical Spreadsheets (Form EIA-861, released October 7, 2026) and Electric Power Annual (October 21, 2026); NREL PVWatts (National Solar Radiation Database), statewide averages; NC Public Staff: net metering; Solar.com: Plug-in solar, the 2026 guide; EnergySage: median quoted price, first half of 2026.