Solar in New Bern, NC
With Duke Energy Progress's electricity at about 15.9¢ per kWh and 1,407 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical New Bern home today: about a 13.3-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 13.3 yrsNorth Carolina: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $24,146after paying $22,300
- Sun
- 1,407kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 15.9¢12% below U.S. average
A typical New Bern home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Progress |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 1,046 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 8 kW, about 19 panels, 11,255 kWh a year (90% of use) |
| Cost | $22,300 |
| First-year savings | $1,716 |
| Payback | 13.3 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 New Bern
- Owner-occupied homes
- 60%
- Single-family detached
- 64%
- Median home value
- $240k
- Median year built
- 1989
- Population
- 32,734
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Installers working in New Bern
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 New Bern
Is solar worth it in New Bern, NC?
For a typical home in New Bern, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 8 kW system costs about $22,300 after state incentives, saves about $1,716 in year one and pays back in about 13.3 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in New Bern?
About 1,407 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 0% less than the North Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in New Bern?
Most homes in New Bern are served by Duke Energy Progress, at about 15.9¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Carteret-Craven El Member, Jones-Onslow Electric Member, City of New Bern.
How much do solar panels cost in New Bern?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $22,300 for a 8 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Jacksonville 12.6 yrs
- Greenville 13 yrs
- Goldsboro 13 yrs
- Wilson 14.9 yrs
- Rocky Mount 13.1 yrs
- Wilmington 13 yrs
- Leland 13.2 yrs
- Clayton 13 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.