In short: Every home in New Hanover County is on Duke Energy Progress, which averaged 15.54¢ per kWh for homes in 2024. Wilmington has the most sun of North Carolina’s big metros (about 1,340 kWh per kW of panels a year, our estimate), and FEMA rates hurricanes, lightning and winter weather “Very High” here. Plan backup for hurricane season first.
This page covers what is local to Wilmington. Statewide rules (Duke Energy’s solar rates, licensing, the property tax exclusion) are in our North Carolina energy guide.
Wilmington at a glance
- Utility: Duke Energy Progress is the only electric utility listed for New Hanover County (EIA-861). Home price 15.54¢/kWh on average in 2024; a typical 1,000 kWh bill was $165.66 in January 2026 (NC Utilities Commission).
- Outages (2024, all Duke Energy Progress customers in North Carolina): 1,803 minutes per customer with major events (about 30 hours, much of it Hurricane Helene in the mountains), 141 minutes without them.
- Neighbors: across the river, Brunswick County also has Brunswick EMC (13.66¢; 44 minutes of outages in 2024) and the City of Southport; Pender County has Four County EMC.
- Sun: about 4.60 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020), the highest of the six North Carolina metros we cover. Our rough estimate: about 1,342 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index, New Hanover County): hurricanes, lightning and winter weather “Very High”; coastal flooding, ice storms and tornadoes “Relatively High”. Overall risk “Relatively High”.
- Public charging: 100 ports at 36 locations in Wilmington, 43 of them DC fast (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Prices are 2024 averages (home revenue divided by home sales, EIA-861) and include fixed charges, so they differ from the monthly statewide price on our state page.
Your utility and what it means
In Wilmington the answer is simple: Duke Energy Progress. That has three consequences.
- Solar rates: new home solar goes on Duke’s North Carolina solar rates, explained on our state page. The Net Metering Bridge rate closes to new applicants on December 31, 2026, so the date your interconnection application is filed matters.
- Higher price: Duke Energy Progress costs more than Duke Energy Carolinas (a typical 1,000 kWh bill of $165.66 against $144.82 in January 2026), so each kWh you make and use yourself is worth a bit more here than in Charlotte.
- EV help: Duke announced a Charger Prep Credit in 2022 of up to $1,133 toward the wiring for a home Level 2 charger. We could not confirm it is still open in 2026, so ask Duke before work starts.
Backup power in Wilmington
New Hanover County’s “Very High” hurricane rating is the planning number that matters most. A hurricane outage can last days, in heat and humidity, often with flooding and blocked roads. What most households need: the fridge and freezer, fans or a window air conditioner, phones and internet, and for some homes a sump pump or medical equipment.
- Standby generator: the most hours for the money in a multi-day outage. Ask your installer and the permit office where it can sit relative to flood levels and property lines; see generator installation.
- Battery with solar: recharges every sunny day after the storm passes, with no fuel lines to wait for. See home batteries.
- Portable power station: for renters, condos and short outages; see portable power stations.
- Safety: portable generator exhaust contains deadly carbon monoxide. Run them outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from windows and doors, never in a garage (CPSC); CO alarms on every level. Never connect a generator to house wiring without a transfer switch or interlock installed by a licensed electrician.
Size your setup with the generator sizing calculator or the battery backup calculator, and compare options in our backup power guide.
Solar in Wilmington
Wilmington’s sun is its advantage. A rough estimate: a 7 kW system at about 1,342 kWh per kW makes roughly 9,400 kWh a year. If every kWh replaced power at Duke Energy Progress’ 2024 average of 15.54¢, that would be worth about $1,460 a year. That is the ceiling: under Duke’s solar rates, exported energy earns much less than retail, so the real value depends on how much you use or store yourself.
On the coast the roof matters as much as the sun. New Hanover County’s solar checklist asks for a structural load analysis signed by a licensed North Carolina engineer for rooftop systems, and the state’s rooftop solar procedure adds engineering in high-wind zones. Ask installers how the racking is rated for wind. Try our solar potential tool, then see solar panel cost and solar installation.
Batteries
Solar plus a battery is the combination that keeps working after a hurricane: the battery covers the night, the panels refill it the next day. Under Duke’s time-of-use solar rate, the same battery also shifts midday solar into the evening. Keep batteries and inverters where the installer and permit office agree they are safe from flooding. See home battery installation, home battery cost and solar battery storage.
EV charging
Wilmington has 100 public charging ports, 43 of them DC fast. Charging at home is cheaper: a labelled estimate at about 30 kWh per 100 miles and Duke Energy Progress’ 2024 average of 15.54¢ comes to about $4.66 per 100 miles, or about $560 a year for 12,000 miles. With solar, daytime charging uses your own energy.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Wilmington: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
A Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit installed by a licensed electrician, with a permit. The federal 30C charger credit ended for chargers placed in service after June 30, 2026. See EV charger installation and our EV charging cost calculator.
Permits and inspections
- Who issues permits: the City of Wilmington says the New Hanover County Department of Permits & Inspections issues all building permits in the city. Applications go through the County’s COAST online portal.
- Solar: the County’s solar energy page lists what a residential application needs: a site plan with setbacks, a structural load analysis for rooftop systems signed by a licensed NC engineer, an electrical diagram, equipment specifications, HOA approval where one applies, and a signed interconnection application with Duke Energy. Inspections: rough electrical where needed, final electrical and final building.
- Who does the work: a licensed electrical contractor for any solar system in North Carolina; a licensed gas contractor for a generator’s gas line.
Cities we cover
- Wilmington
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Wilmington energy FAQ
Who is the electric company in Wilmington, NC?
Duke Energy Progress. It is the only electric utility listed for New Hanover County in the federal EIA-861 data. In neighboring Brunswick and Pender counties, some homes are on cooperatives (Brunswick EMC, Four County EMC) or, in Southport, a city-owned system.
Is solar worth it in Wilmington?
Wilmington gets more sun than Charlotte, Raleigh or the Triad, and Duke Energy Progress’ price is higher than Duke Energy Carolinas’, both of which help. Our estimate puts a 7 kW system’s ceiling at about $1,460 a year. Exported energy earns less than retail under Duke’s solar rates, so self-use and a battery improve the case. Get site-specific numbers before you sign.
Do I need an engineer for rooftop solar in Wilmington?
New Hanover County’s solar checklist asks for a structural load analysis signed by a licensed North Carolina engineer for rooftop systems. Your installer normally arranges it as part of the permit application.
What backup power makes sense for hurricane season in Wilmington?
For multi-day outages, a standby generator or solar with a battery. A generator gives the most hours per dollar; solar plus a battery recharges without fuel once the sun returns. For short outages or apartments, a portable power station. Whatever you choose, keep generators outdoors and 20 feet from the house.
Sources
Utility areas, prices and outages: EIA-861, 2024 data. Typical bills: NC Utilities Commission overview, January 2026. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Charging ports: AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. Permits: City of Wilmington and New Hanover County Permits & Inspections. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.