Solar in Cary, NC
With Duke Energy Progress's electricity at about 15.9¢ per kWh and 1,378 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Cary home today: about a 13.4-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 13.4 yrsNorth Carolina: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $24,113after paying $22,770
- Sun
- 1,378kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 15.9¢12% below U.S. average
A typical Cary home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Progress |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,046 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 8.2 kW, about 19 panels, 11,297 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $22,770 |
| First-year savings | $1,737 |
| Payback | 13.4 years |
| Exported power | 3.5¢/kWh (Duke Energy Progress) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.2% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Cary
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
- Single-family detached
- 59%
- Median home value
- $580k
- Median year built
- 1999
- Population
- 179,306
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 74%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 31,770 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Cary
Public installation records for North Carolina don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in North Carolina.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Cary
Is solar worth it in Cary, NC?
For a typical home in Cary, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 8.2 kW system costs about $22,770 after state incentives, saves about $1,737 in year one and pays back in about 13.4 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Cary?
About 1,378 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% less than the North Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Cary?
Most homes in Cary are served by Duke Energy Progress, at about 15.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Duke Energy Carolinas.
How much do solar panels cost in Cary?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $22,770 for a 8.2 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Morrisville 15.4 yrs
- Apex 13.2 yrs
- Holly Springs 13 yrs
- Raleigh 13.5 yrs
- Fuquay-Varina 12.9 yrs
- Garner 12.9 yrs
- Durham 15.4 yrs
- Chapel Hill 15.4 yrs
- All of North Carolina
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.