Raleigh homes sit in Duke Energy Progress territory, so your solar export credit follows Duke’s newer riders, not the old 1:1 net metering that closed to new solar in 2023. Raleigh’s city Permit Portal clears most rooftop systems the same day, and North Carolina power runs about 15.09 cents per kWh, so strong Carolina sun does the heavy lifting.
Raleigh is one of the strongest rooftop solar markets in the Southeast: plenty of sun, a deep local installer base, and a City permitting process that is genuinely fast. What trips people up is the money math, because it changed. Raleigh sits in Duke Energy Progress territory, and Duke retired full-retail net metering for new solar customers in 2023, while the federal homeowner tax credit ended after 2025. This page lays out what solar actually costs in Raleigh in 2026, how Duke Energy Progress credits your exports, how the City of Raleigh and Wake County permit a system, and which incentives are still live. Every figure here is dated and linked to its source, because these programs move. For the statewide picture, start with our North Carolina solar guide. Updated for 2026.
What solar costs in Raleigh in 2026
North Carolina’s power prices sit below the national average, which is the honest starting point. At about 15.09 cents per kWh for residential customers (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, data for May 2026; national average about 18.4 cents), the bill solar offsets in Raleigh is smaller than in the high-rate Northeast. Most Duke Energy Progress homes pay in this range. What tips the math in Raleigh’s favor is sunshine: the area gets strong solar resource, so a right-sized system produces a lot of kilowatt-hours per dollar of panel.
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 6 kW system in Raleigh (ZIP 27601) produces about 8,275 kWh a year (modeled with NREL’s PVWatts calculator, v8, standard assumptions). That works out to roughly 1,379 kWh per installed kW each year, a strong specific yield, which at North Carolina’s current 15.09 cents per kWh trims about $104 off a typical monthly power bill. Your own output depends on roof pitch, orientation, and shade from Raleigh’s tall pines and oaks, so treat this as a planning estimate and run your own address through PVWatts for a tighter number. For the full cost-per-watt and payback breakdown by system size, see our North Carolina solar cost and payback guide.
Net metering in Raleigh: the Duke Energy Progress riders
The big change: full-retail 1:1 net metering is gone for new solar customers. Duke Energy’s legacy Rider NM, which credited every exported kilowatt-hour at the full retail rate, closed to new residential solar on September 30, 2023 (DSIRE, North Carolina net metering). Because Raleigh is served by Duke Energy Progress, not a co-op or a city utility, new Raleigh customers now choose between two Duke riders, and the one you pick decides what your exports are worth. Verify the current terms and any capacity limits with Duke before you sign.
| Duke rider (new Raleigh solar) | How it credits you | The catch to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Rider NMB (Net Metering Bridge) | Simple monthly netting, no time-of-use requirement, a set stay period | A transitional option that is capacity-capped and time-limited, so confirm it is still open on Duke Energy Progress |
| Rider RSC (Residential Solar Choice) | Time-of-use pricing with critical peak periods; exports credited near Duke’s avoided-cost rate, not full retail | Adds a minimum monthly bill and non-bypassable charges, so shifting usage to off-peak matters |
| Source | DSIRE, North Carolina net metering; confirm current tariff terms with Duke Energy | |
What this means for a Raleigh homeowner: the bridge rate (Rider NMB) is the friendlier option because it keeps simple monthly netting, while Residential Solar Choice (Rider RSC) shifts you to time-of-use and credits exports below retail. Because the bridge rider is capacity-limited and time-bound, its availability on Duke Energy Progress is exactly the kind of thing to verify before you commit. Either way, sizing a system to your own usage matters more than it used to, since over-exporting no longer earns full retail. To see how the credit works in detail, read how net metering credits your solar exports, and for how the bridge rate and time-of-use exports compare across Duke’s operating companies, see our North Carolina net metering guide for 2026. For the full Duke breakdown, including interconnection and the PowerPair battery rebate, see our Duke Energy North Carolina solar guide.
Raleigh solar incentives in 2026 (including Duke PowerPair)
North Carolina does not run an SREC market or a state income-tax credit, so a Raleigh incentive stack is shorter than Maryland’s or New Jersey’s. What it does have is a strong property-tax exemption and a Duke solar-plus-battery rebate. Here is what is live in 2026, with one detail that is specific to Raleigh’s utility.
| Incentive | What it pays | 2026 status for Raleigh to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Duke PowerPair (solar + battery) | A one-time incentive of up to $9,000 for pairing home solar with a battery | Raleigh is on Duke Energy Progress, and the Duke Energy Progress side of this capped pilot filled its cap in late 2025 and moved new applicants to a waitlist. Confirm current Duke Energy Progress availability before counting on it |
| Property-tax exemption | Excludes 80% of a residential solar system’s value from property tax | A standing North Carolina law; your added home value in Wake County is largely shielded from higher property taxes |
| State income-tax credit | None for homeowners | North Carolina’s old 35% credit expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2015; there is no current state credit |
| Federal residential (Section 25D) | A 30% homeowner credit | Ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025; a 2026 buyer cannot claim it |
The Raleigh-specific catch is Duke PowerPair. Duke’s PowerPair pilot pays a one-time incentive of up to $9,000 to homeowners who install solar together with a battery (Duke Energy, announced April 2024). It is a capped pilot split by operating company, and this is where Raleigh differs from Charlotte: the Duke Energy Progress territory that serves Raleigh reached its enrollment cap in late 2025 and began waitlisting applicants, while the Duke Energy Carolinas side that serves Charlotte and Greensboro still had capacity as of mid-2026. Because that status moves, confirm current PowerPair availability for Duke Energy Progress before you count on it. For a full breakdown of every North Carolina incentive, see our North Carolina solar incentives 2026 guide.
The property-tax exemption is the durable one. North Carolina excludes 80% of a residential solar electric system’s value from your property-tax assessment, so adding panels does not swing your Wake County tax bill the way a home addition would (DSIRE, North Carolina property-tax abatement). North Carolina’s sales-tax treatment of residential solar equipment has shifted over the years, so verify the current rule with the North Carolina Department of Revenue rather than assuming an exemption. And North Carolina has no general residential solar income-tax credit today, since the old 35% state credit expired after 2015.
Heads up on the federal credit: the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a Raleigh homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS). A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the company that owns the panels claims it, not you. Always confirm your own situation with a licensed tax professional. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice.
See what solar programs are available at your Raleigh address
Duke Energy Progress rates, net-metering riders, PowerPair availability, and installer options change by location. Enter your ZIP and we’ll match you with licensed installers who serve the Raleigh area.
Free to check. About a minute. No credit pull to check.
Submitted securely and used to match you with licensed installers in your area. Some homeowners may qualify for no-up-front-cost lease or PPA options where available. A lease or PPA can carry an annual price escalator and, over its full term, may cost more than owning the system with cash or a loan. On a lease or PPA the provider owns the panels and keeps any tax benefits, and the 30% federal credit ended after December 31, 2025. Not a savings guarantee.
Permitting solar in Raleigh and Wake County
Here is the part that is genuinely easier in Raleigh than in many cities: the permit. The City of Raleigh says most residential one- and two-family rooftop solar PV systems are eligible for same-day online permitting through its Permit Portal, though a small share get flagged for extra review (City of Raleigh, Residential Solar PV permitting). Your installer typically pulls the permit for you and submits the application, plans, equipment specs, and a design professional’s signed and sealed structural inspection document.
A few Raleigh and Wake County specifics worth knowing before you sign:
- Who files it: a licensed installer normally handles the City permit and the Duke Energy Progress interconnection application. Confirm both are in your contract.
- Historic districts: if your home is in a Raleigh Historic Overlay District, added review can apply, so ask your installer to check before scheduling.
- Inspection: after the permit is issued you schedule inspection through the portal, and a Certificate of Compliance follows the Building Official’s approval. Interconnection to Duke Energy Progress is a separate step from the City permit.
- Timing: a Raleigh permit expires if work does not begin within six months, so line up your installer before you pull it.
Because rules can change, verify current requirements on the City of Raleigh permitting page and confirm interconnection steps with Duke. To pressure-test any installer’s numbers, use the right questions to ask a solar installer.
Is solar worth it in Raleigh?
For many Raleigh homeowners, yes, but the case rests on production, fast permitting, and the property-tax break more than on a rich incentive stack. With below-average power prices, the payback here is driven by strong Carolina sun, a system sized to your own use under Duke Energy Progress’s newer riders, and keeping your added home value out of your Wake County property-tax bill. If you own the system through cash or a loan, you keep those benefits directly; if you lease or sign a PPA, the company that owns the panels keeps any tax benefits while you get a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. For a full payback walkthrough, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it, and for the broader picture, browse our solar by state guides.
How to choose a Raleigh installer: screen any company against objective criteria rather than a “best” list. Look for NABCEP certification, a valid North Carolina electrical license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real local experience with Raleigh permitting and Duke Energy Progress interconnection paperwork, and a clear production estimate you can compare. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve the Raleigh area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. Keep in mind the 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 cash or loan buyer cannot claim it; for the full timeline, read what the federal solar tax credit change means for homeowners.
Frequently asked questions
Which utility serves Raleigh for solar? Raleigh is in Duke Energy Progress territory, one of Duke Energy’s two North Carolina operating companies. That matters because your net-metering rider and your PowerPair eligibility follow Duke Energy Progress specifically, and they differ from the Duke Energy Carolinas rules that cover Charlotte and the Piedmont. If your address is served by a cooperative or a city utility instead, your terms will differ, so confirm your provider before planning.
How long does a solar permit take in Raleigh? The City of Raleigh says most residential one- and two-family rooftop solar PV systems are eligible for same-day online permitting through its Permit Portal, though a small percentage are flagged for additional review. Your installer usually submits the application, plans, equipment specs, and a signed and sealed structural inspection document. Interconnection with Duke Energy Progress is a separate step. Verify current requirements on the City of Raleigh permitting page.
Is net metering still available in Raleigh? Yes, but not the old full-retail version for new customers. Duke Energy’s legacy 1:1 net metering (Rider NM) closed to new residential solar on September 30, 2023. New Raleigh customers on Duke Energy Progress choose between Rider NMB, a transitional bridge option with simple monthly netting, and Rider RSC (Residential Solar Choice), a time-of-use rate that credits exports near Duke’s avoided-cost rate rather than full retail and adds a minimum monthly bill. Because the bridge option is capacity-capped, verify current availability with Duke.
Is Duke PowerPair still open for Raleigh homes? Verify it, because Raleigh’s answer is different from Charlotte’s. PowerPair is a Duke Energy pilot that pays a one-time incentive of up to $9,000 to homeowners who install solar paired with a battery. It is capped by operating company: the Duke Energy Progress territory that serves Raleigh reached its enrollment cap in late 2025 and began waitlisting applicants, while the Duke Energy Carolinas side still had capacity as of mid-2026. Confirm current Duke Energy Progress status before planning around it.
How much does solar produce in Raleigh? Production depends on your roof, but as a benchmark MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026) models a typical 6 kW system at ZIP 27601 at about 8,275 kWh a year using NREL’s PVWatts calculator, roughly 1,379 kWh per installed kW. At North Carolina’s current 15.09 cents per kWh that offsets about $104 off a typical monthly bill. Roof pitch, orientation, and shade from Raleigh’s tall pines and oaks all move that number, so run your own address through PVWatts for a tighter estimate.
Does Raleigh or North Carolina have a state solar tax credit? No. North Carolina’s 35% state solar tax credit expired for systems placed in service after December 31, 2015, and there is no general residential state solar income-tax credit today. The durable tax benefit for a Raleigh homeowner is the property-tax exemption, which excludes 80% of the system’s value from your Wake County property-tax assessment. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) separately ended after December 31, 2025.
