North Carolina Electricity Rates
Rate data for North Carolina is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina has not opened its residential electricity market to competition, so the utility that delivers your power also sells it. Its prices are set in rate cases before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, and the rate you pay depends on which utility serves your address, your rate schedule, and the season.
Grid operator: No RTO for Duke territory (SERC); PJM in the northeast. Wholesale power costs flow through to retail bills on the regulator's schedule rather than month to month, which is why regulated-state rates move more slowly than the market-based states listed below.
Want to shop for a supplier? Retail choice is open on this site in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
North Carolina has no supplier choice at all: statute assigns your address to one utility, and Duke alone runs two separately tariffed NC utilities (Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress), so which side of an invisible territory line you land on sets your rates; the upside is that NCUC Rule R12-4 caps any deposit at two-twelfths of your estimated annual bill and pays 8 percent interest on it once it is held more than 90 days.
Who will deliver your power in North Carolina
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
Duke Energy Carolinasinvestor-owned
One of the three NCUC-regulated investor-owned utilities, serving an assigned territory in North Carolina and South Carolina (24,000 square miles across both states per Duke); Duke's address checker tells you whether Duke serves a given home. About 3 million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina combined (per Duke Fast Facts, April 2026); Duke's NC electric customers across both utilities total 3.9 million.
Duke's start page sends first-time customers (or anyone adding a new address) through an online Start My Service flow, offers an address checker to confirm Duke is the provider, and links a Security Deposit Options resource and a Welcome Kit. The public pages do not state deposit amounts, ID requirements or a lead time; deposit limits for Duke come from NCUC Rule R12-4.
Start service with Duke Energy Carolinas →Sources: duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, publicstaff.nc.gov
Duke Energy Progressinvestor-owned
The second NCUC-regulated Duke utility, serving its own assigned territory in North Carolina and South Carolina (28,000 square miles across both states per Duke); Duke has filed an application with the NCUC for a business combination of Carolinas and Progress. About 1.8 million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina combined (per Duke Fast Facts, April 2026).
Same Start, Stop or Move flow and Security Deposit Options resource as Duke Energy Carolinas; Progress customers in a heating or cooling crisis can also apply at their county DSS for the Share the Light Fund, which the state's policy manual says is funded by Duke Energy Progress customers, employees and corporate donations.
Start service with Duke Energy Progress →Sources: duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, ncuc.gov, policies.ncdhhs.gov
Dominion Energy North Carolinainvestor-owned
The third NCUC-regulated investor-owned utility (the Commission lists it as Dominion North Carolina Power); its tariffs are filed by Virginia Electric and Power Company under NCUC Docket E-22. Dominion's NC pages do not describe the counties it serves.
Dominion asks new residential customers for the new street address with unit number, full legal name, Social Security Number and email (meter number helpful but not required), works service orders Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding holidays, and says to give as much notice as possible; a $17.32 connection charge appears on the first bill. New customers, or anyone without a good payment history in the last 12 months, pay a security deposit that is typically two times the average bill or $260 if usage is unknown, usually billed in three installments and refunded as a bill credit 12 months after it is paid in full with good payment history.
Start service with Dominion Energy North Carolina →Sources: dominionenergy.com, dominionenergy.com, ncuc.gov, cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net
EnergyUnitedcooperative
The largest of North Carolina's 26 electric cooperatives, serving 19 counties including Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. About 142,000 average total consumers (per North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives).
EnergyUnited has you search your address, then apply online through My EnergyHub with your service address, full legal name, date of birth, mailing address, phone, email, previous address and any authorized adults; requests needed within the next 5 business days go to Member Support at 800-522-3793. The page does not mention a credit check, deposit or connection fee. Co-ops are member-owned not-for-profits whose rates are not regulated by the NCUC.
Start service with EnergyUnited →Sources: energyunited.com, ncelectriccooperatives.com, ncelectriccooperatives.com, ncuc.gov
Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC)municipal
Fayetteville's hometown utility, one of more than 70 public power communities in North Carolina (the NCUC counts 76 municipally-owned electric utilities).
PWC asks for date of birth, Social Security number, a valid picture ID number, phone, email, employer and co-applicant information, a reference, landlord information and lease if renting, and runs an Experian credit check where applicable; deposits follow a published schedule of deposits, fees and charges linked from the page, with a Deposit Waiver Program for local military and Cumberland County teachers. For online requests a representative calls within 24-72 business hours; the call center ((910) 483-1382) is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and is busiest around the first of the month.
Start service with Fayetteville Public Works Commission →Sources: faypwc.com, faypwc.com, electricities.com, ncuc.gov
Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in North Carolina
Deposits. NCUC Rule R12-4 caps any cash deposit to start or restart service at two-twelfths of the estimated charge for the next twelve months (one-half of the season's estimated charge for seasonal customers such as electric-heat households, whose heating season is October through March under R12-11(c)); a deposit held more than 90 days earns 8 percent a year. Rule R12-2 lets you establish credit instead by owning real estate in the county, giving references, a satisfactory payment history as the utility's customer within the past 24 billings, or a guarantor, and Rule R12-5 requires the utility to review deposits once a year and automatically refund yours with interest once you have paid twelve consecutive bills with service never cut off and no more than two late payments. (ncuc.gov)
Choosing a supplier. There is no residential supplier choice in North Carolina. G.S. 62-110.2 assigns electric service territories outside municipalities to a single supplier (a customer may pick between suppliers only in narrow cases, such as premises within 300 feet of two suppliers' lines or in an unassigned area), the NCUC says 'a customer obtains electric service from the utility providing service to that area,' and the Public Staff describes the three investor-owned utilities as serving 'assigned service territories.'
Under Rule R12-11 a bill cannot be due sooner than 25 days after the billing date, residential disconnection for nonpayment needs at least 10 days' written notice offering an installment plan of up to six months, and no residential disconnection happens on Fridays, weekends, state or federal holidays or the day before one; from November 1 to March 31 a household that has a member 65 or older or handicapped, cannot pay in full or by installment, and is certified eligible for crisis assistance cannot be cut off without express Commission approval. Customers may informally appeal a disconnection or deposit dispute to the Public Staff Consumer Services Division (866-380-9816 or 919-733-9277, consumer.services@psncuc.gov) before filing a formal complaint; these rules bind the Commission-regulated utilities, while electric cooperatives and municipal systems are not rate-regulated by the NCUC.
Sources: ncuc.gov, ncleg.gov, ncuc.gov, publicstaff.nc.gov, ncuc.gov, ncuc.gov, publicstaff.nc.gov, ncuc.gov
Help paying an electric bill in North Carolina
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) — North Carolina's LIHEAP
NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services, through county Departments of Social Services (apply at your county DSS or online via ePASS)
Households with at least one U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen that are responsible for their heating costs and meet the income test (130% of the federal poverty level; the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists 150% for households with a member 60 or older or disabled), receiving a one-time vendor payment of $300 to $500 in FY2026. Households with a member age 60 or older or a disabled person receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services apply December 1-31; all others apply January 1 to March 31 or until funds run out.
Sources: ncdhhs.gov, ncdhhs.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Crisis Intervention Program (CIP)
NC DHHS Division of Social Services through county Departments of Social Services (application by mail, email, fax or drop-off at your county DSS, or online via ePASS; 1-800-662-7030)
Households in, or in danger of, a life-threatening or health-related heating or cooling emergency (no heat or cooling source, or a disconnect, final or past-due notice for the primary heating or cooling service) with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, resources of $4,500 or less (60+ or disabled member) or $3,000 or less, and a utility statement showing the amount owed; applications are taken July 1 through June 30 or until the allocation is spent, no face-to-face interview is required, and the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists a $600 maximum benefit.
Sources: ncdhhs.gov, ncdhhs.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
NC Department of Environmental Quality State Energy Office, delivered by local weatherization agencies (find yours at weatherizenc.org)
Income-eligible households (the LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists 200% of the federal poverty level), with priority for the elderly, people with disabilities, families with children, high energy users and energy-burdened households; the local provider determines eligibility, audits the home and installs insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling improvements and health and safety repairs, up to a $12,000 maximum per the Clearinghouse.
Sources: deq.nc.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Dominion Energy EnergyShare (North Carolina)
Dominion Energy North Carolina through local partner agencies (call 2-1-1 or visit nc211.org)
A last-resort program with no income restrictions for Dominion customers facing financial hardship who have a disconnection notice, need reconnection, need help keeping a payment plan or received a Budget Billing removal notice; applications run October 1 through May 31, the benefit is up to $600 paid directly to the energy company, and customers 60 and older may qualify more often.
Sources: dominionenergy.com, dominionenergy.com, liheapch.acf.gov
Duke Energy Share the Light Fund
County Departments of Social Services for Duke Energy Progress customers under the state Energy Programs manual; Duke's Payment Assistance Finder lists agencies that pledge funds to your Duke account
Per the NC DHHS policy manual, a Duke Energy Progress residential household in a heating or cooling crisis with countable income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level; counties take applications from the first working day of July until their allocation is exhausted or the state fiscal year ends. The LIHEAP Clearinghouse describes the fund as customer- and shareholder-supported heating help usable for any energy source, and Duke's FAQ explains that an approved agency makes a pledge to your account, which may not cover the whole bill.
Sources: policies.ncdhhs.gov, duke-energy.com, duke-energy.com, liheapch.acf.gov
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)available
- Net metering changed on October 1, 2023: Duke's legacy Rider NM closed to new applicants on September 30, 2023 (existing customers keep it until December 31, 2026, then move to Rider NMB), and new residential systems up to 20 kW AC choose Residential Solar Choice (Rider RSC: minimum monthly bill, non-bypassable charges, a grid access fee above 15 kW AC, mandatory time-of-use with critical peak pricing, and net exports credited monthly at avoided cost) or the limited-enrollment Net Metering Bridge (Rider NMB, same terms without the TOU-CPP requirement, for up to 15 years). G.S. 62-126.4 requires rates that make net-metering customers pay their full fixed cost of service, and cooperatives and municipal utilities are not required to offer net metering at all.
Sources: publicstaff.nc.gov, ncleg.gov
- Community solarlimited
- Duke's NC Shared Solar program lets residential and nonresidential subscribers pay for a share of a solar facility and receive bill credits, but Duke's page says there are currently no shared solar sites available in North Carolina for customers to join and asks developers and community organizers to contact NCSharedSolar@duke-energy.com to start one.
Source: duke-energy.com
- Time-of-use ratesavailable
- Dominion Energy North Carolina's Schedule 1T Energy TOU carries the same $14.40 basic customer charge as the standard Schedule 1 (which bills 12.1533 cents per kWh June-September and 10.5123 cents October-May) but charges 26.9467 cents on-peak and 6.2731 cents off-peak in summer and 22.3556 cents on-peak and 5.7137 cents off-peak the rest of the year, with on-peak hours of 1-9 p.m. weekdays June-September and 6:30 a.m.-noon plus 5-9 p.m. weekdays October-May; leaving within a year bars you from the schedule for a year. Duke publishes a Residential Time-of-Use Rate Program page for its customers, and Duke rooftop-solar customers on Residential Solar Choice must take a time-of-use rate with critical peak pricing.
Sources: cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net, cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net, dominionenergy.com, duke-energy.com, publicstaff.nc.gov
Questions people ask before moving to North Carolina
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to North Carolina?
No NC utility page promises a fixed lead time: Dominion asks for as much notice as possible and works orders Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding holidays, EnergyUnited says requests needed within the next 5 business days should go to Member Support rather than the online form, and Fayetteville PWC calls online applicants within 24-72 business hours to finish the process. Duke publishes no lead time.
Sources: dominionenergy.com, energyunited.com, faypwc.com, duke-energy.com
Will I have to pay a deposit as a new customer?
Often, but the NCUC caps a cash deposit at two-twelfths of your estimated annual bill, requires 8 percent interest on deposits held more than 90 days, and makes the utility refund it automatically after twelve consecutive bills with no more than two late payments; you can avoid it by establishing credit (property ownership, references, prior utility history or a guarantor). Dominion's deposit is typically two times the average bill or $260 if usage is unknown, billed in three installments and refunded after 12 months, while Fayetteville PWC runs an Experian credit check and waives deposits for local military and Cumberland County teachers.
Sources: ncuc.gov, dominionenergy.com, faypwc.com
Can I shop for a cheaper electricity supplier in North Carolina?
No. North Carolina assigns each address to one electric supplier under G.S. 62-110.2, the NCUC says a customer obtains service from the utility providing service to that area, and the Public Staff lists Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress and Dominion Energy North Carolina as serving assigned territories; your only lever is the rate schedule you choose within your utility, such as a time-of-use plan.
Sources: ncleg.gov, ncuc.gov, publicstaff.nc.gov, dominionenergy.com
Why are there two Duke Energy utilities in North Carolina, and does it matter which one I get?
Duke Energy Carolinas (3 million customers across 24,000 square miles in NC and SC) and Duke Energy Progress (1.8 million across 28,000 square miles) are separately regulated utilities with separate NCUC tariffs and riders, which is why the Public Staff tells you to select your service territory before reading Duke's rates and lists different DEC and DEP net-metering riders. Duke's address checker confirms whether Duke serves your home, and Duke has filed an NCUC application to combine the two.
Sources: duke-energy.com, publicstaff.nc.gov, duke-energy.com, ncuc.gov, publicstaff.nc.gov
What help is there if I cannot pay my electric bill?
LIEAP pays a one-time heating benefit of $300 to $500 (apply December for 60+/disabled households, January 1 to March 31 for everyone else) and the Crisis Intervention Program pays up to $600 year-round for a heating or cooling emergency at 150% of poverty, both through your county DSS or ePASS; Dominion customers can get up to $600 from EnergyShare regardless of income via 2-1-1, and Duke Energy Progress customers can apply for Share the Light at their county DSS. The Public Staff itself does not provide financial assistance.
Sources: ncdhhs.gov, ncdhhs.gov, liheapch.acf.gov, dominionenergy.com, policies.ncdhhs.gov, publicstaff.nc.gov
Researched 2026-10-16 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
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