Solar Atlas · North Carolina
Is solar worth it in Charlotte, NC?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Charlotte makes about 10,126 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 19.5 years at Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC’s 13.9¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow Duke Energy Carolinas Residential Solar Choice (Rider RSC).
35.23°N · 9.6–14.4 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,447 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 16.5% AC
- Residential rate
- 13.9¢/kWh · Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
- Exported solar
- Duke Energy Carolinas Residential Solar Choice (Rider RSC) · 4.53¢/kWh
- Climate
- humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa) · 16.3 °C mean, 1,107 mm/yr
Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered
Source: EIA-861M utility average · Aug 2025–Jul 2026 · EIA North Carolina average Jan–Jul 2026 14.9¢ · utility’s EIA-861 2024 average 13.9¢
Source: Duke Energy Carolinas (North Carolina) residential solar customers applying since 2023-10-01 on Rider RSC (Rider NMB, the non-TOU bridge option, has limited slots and closes to new participants 2027-01-01) · checked 2026-09-25
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC US (10.5 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24
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Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Charlotte. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 9.5¢/kWh commercial rate.