Electricity rate reference
SolarCalcNow currently uses 14.74 cents/kWh for North Carolina.
$0.1474/kWh
14.74 ¢/kWh
EIA Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential column; published August 26, 2026. Divide the published cents/kWh by 100. This preliminary statewide average is a fallback, not your utility tariff. Use your bill's energy-only rate; fixed charges remain payable.
A statewide residential average is a consistent early-planning input, not a reproduction of one utility bill. SolarCalcNow uses it to value electricity consumed directly from the solar system and to establish the annual energy-charge ceiling in the savings model. The calculation does not assume solar removes fixed charges, minimum bills, demand charges, taxes, or every time-of-use period. It also values exported production separately under the selected export assumption. This separation lets you test the effect of a different rate or export value without changing the system's physical production target.
North Carolina's combination of moderate residential rates and useful solar production means payback can be sensitive to both household usage and installed price. A high offset target is not automatically the best choice if roof space, budget, or export value is constrained. Run several usage and export scenarios instead of assuming one statewide result applies to every home.
Utility arrangements and local project conditions can vary, so this page stops at a state-level reference. It does not claim a serving utility's fixed charge, time-of-use schedule, or export credit. Check recent bills, identify the exact tariff, and ask installers to separate roof work, electrical upgrades, batteries, and financing from gross solar cost before comparing their savings claims with the planning estimate.
These values come from the existing calculator engine. They multiply the annualized usage scenario by the source-linked state rate and do not include fixed charges, future rate increases, or a utility-specific tariff.
| Monthly usage | Annual usage | Modeled energy charge |
|---|---|---|
| 600 kWh | 7,200 kWh | $1,061 |
| 900 kWh | 10,800 kWh | $1,592 |
| 1,200 kWh | 14,400 kWh | $2,123 |
The calculator estimates bill savings from self-consumed solar at the selected residential rate. A higher rate can shorten payback, while a lower rate makes installed cost and export credit assumptions more important.
Utility plans, time-of-use pricing, net billing, fixed charges, and export credits can differ from a statewide average. Check your bill and utility tariff before treating a planning estimate as a quote.