Solar in Charlotte, NC
With Duke Energy Carolinas's electricity at about 14.2¢ per kWh and 1,391 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Charlotte home today: about a 15.1-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.1 yrsNorth Carolina: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $15,785after paying $19,715
- Sun
- 1,391kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 14.2¢21% below U.S. average
A typical Charlotte home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Carolinas |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 996 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 6.9 kW, about 16 panels, 9,600 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $19,715 |
| First-year savings | $1,337 |
| Payback | 15.1 years |
| Exported power | 3.5¢/kWh (Duke Energy Carolinas) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.2% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Charlotte
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
- Single-family detached
- 51%
- Median home value
- $386k
- Median year built
- 1995
- Population
- 903,844
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 75%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 167,218 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Charlotte
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 Charlotte
Is solar worth it in Charlotte, NC?
For a typical home in Charlotte, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 6.9 kW system costs about $19,715 after state incentives, saves about $1,337 in year one and pays back in about 15.1 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Charlotte?
About 1,391 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 1% less than the North Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Charlotte?
Most homes in Charlotte are served by Duke Energy Carolinas, at about 14.2¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Union Electric Membership, EnergyUnited Electric Member, Town of Huntersville.
How much do solar panels cost in Charlotte?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $19,715 for a 6.9 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Matthews 14.7 yrs
- Mint Hill 14.6 yrs
- Huntersville 14.4 yrs
- Indian Trail 14.8 yrs
- Concord 14.5 yrs
- Cornelius 14.5 yrs
- Gastonia 14.5 yrs
- Monroe 14.7 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.