Solar in Winston-Salem, NC
With Duke Energy Carolinas's electricity at about 14.2¢ per kWh and 1,435 kWh of sun per kW, solar is a close call for a typical Winston-Salem home today: about a 14.7-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 14.7 yrsNorth Carolina: 14.2 yrs
- 25-year net
- $16,481after paying $19,245
- Sun
- 1,435kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 14.2¢21% below U.S. average
A typical Winston-Salem home, by the numbers
| Utility | Duke Energy Carolinas |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 996 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 6.7 kW, about 16 panels, 9,612 kWh a year (80% of use) |
| Cost | $19,245 |
| First-year savings | $1,338 |
| Payback | 14.7 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 Winston-Salem
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
- Single-family detached
- 62%
- Median home value
- $234k
- Median year built
- 1981
- Population
- 252,037
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 75%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 65,443 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).
Installers working in Winston-Salem
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 Winston-Salem
Is solar worth it in Winston-Salem, NC?
For a typical home in Winston-Salem, solar is a close call at 2026 prices: a 6.7 kW system costs about $19,245 after state incentives, saves about $1,338 in year one and pays back in about 14.7 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Winston-Salem?
About 1,435 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 2% more than the North Carolina average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Winston-Salem?
Most homes in Winston-Salem are served by Duke Energy Carolinas, at about 14.2¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by EnergyUnited Electric Member, Surry-Yadkin Electric Member.
How much do solar panels cost in Winston-Salem?
A fair cash price is around $2.85 per watt before incentives, so about $19,245 for a 6.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Kernersville 14.8 yrs
- High Point 14.7 yrs
- Thomasville 14.7 yrs
- Greensboro 14.6 yrs
- Salisbury 14.6 yrs
- Asheboro 13.1 yrs
- Statesville 14.4 yrs
- Burlington 15 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.