Solar Panel Cost Guide in Porters Neck, NC (2024 Update)
- Porters Neck Solar Installation Cost: $15,655
- 25-Year Savings: $18,616
- Payback Period: 13.1 Years
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in Porters Neck
Here’s how much it might cost to go solar in Porters Neck.
The average cost of a solar panel system in Porters Neck is 4 per watt.To account for the typical energy usage of the average home in Porters Neck, most homeowners require a 6.4-kilowatt system. Using the per-watt figure above, a solar installation costs around $15,655, or $22,387 before the federal solar tax credit of 0 is applied.
Keep in mind that the figures above are only estimates based on the average Porters Neck homeowner. The cost of a solar system for your home may be different depending on factors unique to your situation, like your household energy use and solar contractor.But, once you've paid the upfront cost of installation, the return on investment for most homeowners is quite rewarding, with a net average savings of about $18,000 over 20 years on energy bills.
To receive a free quote from a top solar company in Porters Neck, you can click the button below.
Solar savings over time in Porters Neck
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-14,184 |
| 3 years | $-11,242 |
| 5 years | $-8,300 |
| 7 years | $-5,358 |
| 9 years | $-2,416 |
| 11 years | $527 |
| 13 years | $3,469 |
| 15 years | $6,411 |
| 17 years | $9,353 |
| 19 years | $12,295 |
| 21 years | $15,238 |
| 23 years | $18,180 |
| 25 years | $21,122 |
Top Solar Installers in Porters Neck
Do-it-yourself solar panel installation is a possibility, but it's an undertaking that can be a headache. Going with an installer can make your swap to solar power much easier. Solar installers offer key benefits that can help you get the most out of your investment, like warranties, monitoring and free repairs.
There are various licensed solar professionals that can help you install your solar system. Here are our suggestions:
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
See all of the solar companies in Porters Neck
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Porters Neck
The cost of installing a solar system in Porters Neck can vary by more than $10,000 from home to home. Your actual cost is dependent on several factors. The biggest one is your system size, and other factors include the equipment you choose, financing options and the solar installer you choose.
Solar Equipment
When it comes to estimating the price of a solar energy system in Porters Neck, one of the most crucial factors is the size of the system you need. Solar systems are sized by kilowatts (kW) and are largely based on your home’s energy consumption, which you can gauge by looking at past electricity bills. Your overall cost can increase by about $3,510 for each additional kilowatt you need.The brand of solar panels and equipment you get is another factor that will largely influence costs. Solar panels that have higher efficiency, like monocrystalline panels, tend to cost more. Plus, solar equipment goes beyond just the solar panels themselves. You’ll also need to consider the kind of racks used to mount the panels, inverters, solar batteries, etc. It’s important to take all of this into consideration when looking into a solar system that falls within your budget.
Solar Financing Terms
For some homeowners, paying for solar panels out of pocket can be difficult. Solar loans are offered by most installers in Porters Neck, which can reduce, or in some cases eliminate, your upfront costs to make solar more accessible.You’ll have to consider the long-term cost of financing options, including the amount of interest you’ll pay over the length of the loan. If you can only get a high-interest loan, then your total can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars above the equipment and labor cost. Making a larger down payment or getting a solar loan with a low APR could reduce your costs remarkably.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The remaining key cost factor you should consider is the installer you choose. Given the massive popularity of clean energy solutions in Porters Neck, you’ll have a great number of options to choose from, but each comes at different price points for labor and equipment.Larger national companies typically have lower costs, but some local companies compete with them by promoting sales and discounts. While the smaller companies might not have specific equipment options like Tesla Powerwall batteries or extra services like electric car charger installation, they might be cheaper overall.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $3.65 | $15,332 | $12,866 | 13.6 years |
| 8 kW | $3.58 | $20,049 | $17,547 | 13.3 years |
| 10 kW | $3.51 | $24,570 | $22,425 | 13.1 years |
| 12 kW | $3.44 | $28,894 | $27,500 | 12.8 years |
| 14 kW | $3.37 | $33,022 | $32,772 | 12.5 years |
| 16 kW | $3.30 | $36,953 | $38,239 | 12.3 years |
| 18 kW | $3.23 | $40,688 | $43,904 | 12.0 years |
| 20 kW | $3.16 | $44,226 | $49,765 | 11.8 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The solar company you choose will impact not only your total costs, but also the kinds of solar panel brands, warranties, and other equipment you can get. When choosing a solar company, there are several important things you should keep in mind, such as:
- Installation Process: When going solar, it’s essential to maintain an open line of communication with your solar company. See to it that you understand how the installation process will go and the project completion timeline.
- Reputation: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a well-established certification organization for sustainable energy professionals. If your solar panel installer is NABCEP-certified, it likely has a solid reputation and is qualified to do the job well. Another way you can check your installer’s reputation is by reading reviews.
- Contract: When reading through your solar company’s contract, ask for clarification about any terms you’re not sure of and be sure you understand what happens in scenarios such as a system part breaking or the company going out of business.
- Warranty: Each company may offer different kinds of warranties that cover different things. A 25-year, all-inclusive warranty is the gold standard.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Porters Neck, NC Solar Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to install solar panels in Porters Neck?
This is a hard question to answer exactly, because the cost depends on a few different factors. Broadly speaking, it costs about $17,550 for a 5-kW system and $35,100 for a 10-kW system after the ITC is applied. It will be more expensive if you want other solar equipment or higher quality panels, or if you have higher-than-average energy usage. Conversely, you can spend less if you want a smaller solar panel system or cheaper solar panels.
What other factors should I consider aside from cost when buying solar panels?
Cost is without a doubt one of the most important factors you should consider when buying solar panels, but other important factors include efficiency, durability, and quality.
Does Porters Neck have a net metering program?
Most states offer net metering programs of some kind. Through these, you can either be compensated for the extra power your system produces or or receive credits to put toward future utility bills. Currently there are just three states that don’t have any net metering laws: Alabama, Tennessee and South Dakota.
How often do you have to replace solar panels?
Though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely at that time. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can decide to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.