North Carolina is a regulated electricity market, meaning you cannot choose your electric provider—it's determined by your address. However, understanding the differences between utilities helps you know what to expect and how your rates compare.
| Utility | Rate Range | Median Rate | Customers | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LowestMunicipal Utilities | 10.5–13.5¢/kWh | 12.0¢/kWh | 500,000 | Municipal (city-owned) |
Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) | 11.0–14.0¢/kWh | 12.5¢/kWh | 2.5 million | Member-owned cooperatives |
Dominion Energy North Carolina | 12.5–14.5¢/kWh | 13.5¢/kWh | 120,000 | Dominion Energy (investor-owned) |
| 13.5–15.5¢/kWh | 14.5¢/kWh | 2.7 million | Duke Energy (investor-owned) | |
| 14.0–16.0¢/kWh | 14.8¢/kWh | 1.6 million | Duke Energy (investor-owned) |
Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are projected to merge operations, potentially saving customers over $1 billion in future costs. This consolidation may lead to more uniform rates across both service territories in the coming years.
Duke Energy (both Carolinas and Progress) and Dominion are investor-owned utilities regulated by the NC Utilities Commission. They serve the majority of the state's population, particularly in urban and suburban areas. Rates are set through regulatory proceedings.
North Carolina has 26 EMCs serving primarily rural areas. These are member-owned, non-profit organizations. Members can vote on board members and policies. EMCs often have competitive rates because they don't need to generate profits for shareholders.
72 cities and towns in NC operate their own electric utilities. These include Fayetteville, Greenville, and New Bern. Municipal utilities often have the lowest rates because they're city-owned and any surplus revenue supports city services.
Compare electricity rates and utility providers across popular North Carolina cities. Each city guide includes rate plans, bill breakdowns, and local assistance programs.