Solar in Wake Forest, NC
With Duke Energy Carolinas's electricity at about 14.2¢ per kWh and 1,376 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Wake Forest home today: about a 15.3-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 15.3 yrsNorth Carolina: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $15,344after paying $19,715
- Sun
- 1,376kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 14.2¢21% below U.S. average
A typical Wake Forest home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Carolinas |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 996 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 6.9 kW, about 16 panels, 9,495 kWh a year (79% of use) |
| Cost | $19,715 |
| First-year savings | $1,323 |
| Payback | 15.3 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 Wake Forest
- Owner-occupied homes
- 74%
- Single-family detached
- 69%
- Median home value
- $475k
- Median year built
- 2009
- Population
- 52,844
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 81%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 2,625 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Wake Forest
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 Wake Forest
Is solar worth it in Wake Forest, NC?
For a typical home in Wake Forest, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 6.9 kW system costs about $19,715 after state incentives, saves about $1,323 in year one and pays back in about 15.3 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Wake Forest?
About 1,376 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 3% less than the North Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Wake Forest?
Most homes in Wake Forest are served by Duke Energy Carolinas, at about 14.2¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Duke Energy Progress, Wake Electric Membership.
How much do solar panels cost in Wake Forest?
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
- Raleigh 13.5 yrs
- Garner 12.9 yrs
- Morrisville 15.4 yrs
- Clayton 13 yrs
- Cary 13.4 yrs
- Durham 15.4 yrs
- Apex 13.2 yrs
- Holly Springs 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.