Around the property
Solar Payback Calculator
Enter your average monthly electric bill. We'll rough out the system size and a ballpark payback. A real quote factors in your roof, shading, and current incentives.
At a glance
- What you enter
- Average monthly electric bill ($)
- Accuracy
- Rule of thumb
About a 13.8 kW system
Roughly a 13.8 kW system, typically $34600 to $48500 installed before incentives. Very rough payback is 16 to 22 years. The 30% federal tax credit shortens it, and shading or a small roof changes everything.
A ballpark only, and deliberately conservative. It ignores the 30% federal tax credit, net-metering rules, and your specific roof and shading. Those swing payback a lot, so treat this as a gut check before real quotes.
Around the property
Payback depends on your roof, not the average
Orientation, shade and your actual bill move the payback period more than panel prices do. Treat this as the shape of the answer and get a site-specific quote for the rest.
How this is worked out
No hidden fudge factor. This is the whole calculation.
- You enter average monthly electric bill ($).
- That runs through a rule of thumb calibrated for the North Carolina climate.
- It is a starting point for the conversation, not the calculation a licensed pro performs.
Common questions
- Solar Payback: how do I choose the right size?
- Enter your average monthly electric bill. We'll rough out the system size and a ballpark payback. A real quote factors in your roof, shading, and current incentives. It's a rule-of-thumb starting point; a licensed pro does the exact calculation for your home.