As of August 2026, North Carolina ranks 5th in the nation for installed solar capacity (SEIA, 9,709 MW through Q1 2025, enough to power about 1.17 million homes). The average residential electricity rate is about 15.1 cents per kWh (EIA, May 2026), a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,655 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), installed cost runs $2.60 to $3.40 per watt, and simple payback is about 13.5 years. North Carolina gives an 80% property-tax exclusion for solar but no state income-tax credit, and the federal 25D homeowner credit ended December 31, 2025.
Updated for 2026.
Key statistics: North Carolina solar at a glance (2026)
Key numbers (North Carolina, 2026)
- National solar rank: 5th in the U.S. (SEIA, 9,709 MW, through Q1 2025)
- Average residential rate: 15.1 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,655 kWh per year
- Typical installed cost: $2.60 to $3.40 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $18,200 to $23,800
- Property-tax treatment: 80% of system value excluded
- Simple payback: about 13.5 years
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in North Carolina produces about 9,655 kWh a year, offsetting power that costs about 15.1 cents per kWh. These are our own compiled figures for North Carolina; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our North Carolina solar guide.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| National installed solar capacity rank | 5th (9,709 MW) | SEIA, through Q1 2025 |
| Average residential rate | 15.1 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,655 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.60 to $3.40 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $18,200 to $23,800 | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| Property-tax exclusion | 80% of appraised system value | N.C. Gen. Stat. 105-275(45), via DSIRE, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | about 13.5 years | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for North Carolina; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
Solar cost and payback by city in North Carolina
Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative North Carolina cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | 7 kW | 9,655 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 13.5 years |
| Charlotte | 7 kW | 9,910 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 13.1 years |
| Greensboro | 7 kW | 10,031 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 12.9 years |
| Wilmington | 7 kW | 9,594 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 13.5 years |
| Asheville | 7 kW | 9,835 kWh per year | $19,600 | about 13.2 years |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP; cost and payback are MySolarFY estimates that hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
Here is the math behind those payback figures. Take Raleigh: a $19,600 system cost divided by a first-year bill savings of about $1,457. The federal 25D residential credit ended December 31, 2025, so a 2026 buyer gets none of it, and North Carolina has no state income-tax credit, so nothing reduces that up-front cost. The first-year savings is roughly 9,655 kWh of production times the 15.1 cents per kWh retail rate. $19,600 divided by $1,457 is about 13.5 years. A lower installed price, a higher local utility rate, or a lease or PPA changes the result.
Utility rate and net metering comparison
Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers net metering, which is the credit you earn for the power your roof sends back to the grid. See how net metering credits your solar exports for the mechanics, and our Duke Energy North Carolina solar guide for the dominant utility’s rules.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress | North Carolina’s dominant electric utilities; residential all-in around 14 to 16 cents per kWh | Solar Choice net metering set by the NC Utilities Commission: new residential systems earn monthly bill credits for exported energy, with a transitional bridge-rate option that credits exports near retail value on the current schedule before a move to time-of-use rates with a minimum bill and non-bypassable charges |
| Dominion Energy North Carolina | Serves several northeastern NC counties near the Virginia border | Net metering under the NC Utilities Commission framework; confirm the current residential rider before you size a system |
| Electric cooperatives and municipal utilities | Co-ops such as EnergyUnited and Blue Ridge Energy and town-owned utilities serve much of rural NC; rates vary by provider | Net metering terms are set by each co-op or municipal utility, not by the state; confirm with your provider |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the utility commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
North Carolina solar incentive stack (2026)
State programs and net metering make up the North Carolina incentive stack. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
80% property-tax exclusion for solar
North Carolina excludes 80% of the appraised value of a residential solar electric system from local property tax, so adding solar does not raise your property tax on the full system value (active) (N.C. Gen. Stat. 105-275(45), via DSIRE, as of August 2026)
Solar Choice net metering (Duke Energy)
Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress residential customers earn monthly bill credits for exported solar under the NC Utilities Commission Solar Choice structure, with a transitional bridge-rate option before the move to time-of-use rates (active) (NC Utilities Commission / SEIA, as of August 2026)
No North Carolina state income-tax credit
North Carolina has no state income tax credit for residential solar. The former 35% renewable energy investment tax credit sunset for systems placed in service after December 31, 2015 and was not renewed (expired) (DSIRE / NC Department of Revenue, as of August 2026)
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)
The 30% federal homeowner solar credit ended December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash or loan purchase cannot claim it (ended December 31, 2025) (IRS, as of 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but North Carolina’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a North Carolina homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). The 80% property-tax exclusion and Duke Energy net metering were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for North Carolina (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at each city ZIP, anchored on Raleigh (ZIP 27601) for the statewide figure (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates. Installed cost uses a cost-per-watt range informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for North Carolina and national NREL and DOE benchmarks. Simple payback divides the system cost by the first-year net-metering bill savings (annual production times the EIA residential rate). We hold today’s rate flat and ignore financing. The federal 25D residential credit ended December 31, 2025 and North Carolina has no state income-tax credit, so neither reduces these figures.
- Installed capacity rank: the SEIA North Carolina state solar page, which reports the state 5th nationally with 9,709 MW installed through Q1 2025 (SEIA North Carolina solar, as of August 2026).
- Incentives and net metering: the NC Utilities Commission and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, North Carolina Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 21, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), SEIA (installed capacity rank), DSIRE and the NC Utilities Commission (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/north-carolina-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your North Carolina ZIP code
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How to choose a solar installer in North Carolina
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Related North Carolina solar guides
Use these companion pages to go deeper on the numbers above:
- North Carolina solar guide: the statewide overview of costs, incentives, and how to get started.
- Duke Energy North Carolina solar: how Solar Choice net metering and the bridge rate credit your production with the state’s dominant utility.
- Charlotte solar: a local, city-level view for the state’s largest metro.
- Raleigh solar: a local view for the Triangle, the ZIP that anchors our statewide production figure.
- Greensboro solar: a local view for the Piedmont Triad.
- Maryland solar data and statistics: the same dated, sourced treatment for a nearby state, for comparison.
- Our data and methodology: how MySolarFY sources and models every figure on pages like this one.
Frequently asked questions
What are the key North Carolina solar statistics for 2026? As of August 2026, North Carolina ranks 5th nationally for installed solar capacity (SEIA, 9,709 MW through Q1 2025). The average residential electricity rate is about 15.1 cents per kWh (EIA), a typical 7 kW system produces about 9,655 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), installed cost runs $2.60 to $3.40 per watt, and simple payback is about 13.5 years. The state gives an 80% property-tax exclusion for solar but no state income-tax credit.
What is the average solar cost in North Carolina in 2026? A typical residential system in North Carolina runs about $2.60 to $3.40 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in North Carolina? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,655 kWh a year in North Carolina (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026). Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Does North Carolina have a state solar tax credit? No. North Carolina’s 35% renewable energy investment tax credit sunset for systems placed in service after December 31, 2015 and was not renewed, so there is no state income-tax credit for a 2026 install (DSIRE, as of August 2026). The state does still exclude 80% of a solar system’s value from property tax.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a North Carolina homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). State programs and net metering were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, SEIA, DSIRE, and NC Utilities Commission sources as of August 2026, following our data and methodology standards; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation; lease and PPA terms may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
