Home Cost Pulse

North Carolina electricity rates and average bill

Residential price, August 2026

Homes in North Carolina paid an average of 14.95¢ per kWh in August 2026, 18% below the U.S. average of 18.16¢. That is the 14th lowest among the 50 states and D.C. The price is up 2.5% vs August 2025.

The average North Carolina home12 months to August 2026
Electricity used per month
1,044 kWh
U.S. average home
875 kWh
Average monthly bill
$154.39

Same usage at the Aug 2026 price$156.05

Bills are revenue divided by customers, so they include the fixed charges and fees utilities collect.

Price over the last 36 months

11.7¢15.7¢19.6¢Sep 2023Mar 2025Aug 202614.95¢
North CarolinaU.S. average
Show the monthly numbers
MonthPrice
August 202614.95¢
July 202615.16¢
June 202614.74¢
May 202615.09¢
April 202616.25¢
March 202616.00¢
February 202614.64¢
January 202613.68¢
December 202513.45¢
November 202514.61¢
October 202515.01¢
September 202515.08¢
August 202514.59¢
July 202513.35¢
June 202513.37¢
May 202514.30¢
April 202514.54¢
March 202514.79¢
February 202514.13¢
January 202512.50¢
December 202413.51¢
November 202414.86¢
October 202415.23¢
September 202414.87¢

What everyday things cost in North Carolina

At 14.95¢ per kWh, before any fixed monthly charge:

ItemEnergyCost
1,000 kWh
a round reference amount		1,000 kWh$149.50
Central air conditioner
3.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		840 kWh$125.58
Space heater
1.5 kW running 8 hours a day for 30 days		360 kWh$53.82
Electric car, 1,000 miles
3.5 miles per kWh with 10% charging losses		317 kWh$47.46
Electric clothes dryer
3 kW, twelve one-hour loads		36 kWh$5.38
LED TV
100 W for 5 hours a day for 30 days		15 kWh$2.24

Thermostat-controlled appliances cycle on and off, so real use is often lower. Price your own appliance.

Rooftop solar in North Carolina

A 1 kW rooftop system near Charlotte produces about 1,446 kWh a year, according to the NLR PVWatts model. At North Carolina's average price that output is worth about $216 a year per kW. A typical 7 kW system would make about 10,126 kWh, worth about $1,514 a year.

The 30% federal tax credit for solar you buy (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. Work out payback with your own quote.

Estimate your North Carolina bill

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North Carolina compared with the South

StatePriceAverage bill
Louisiana12.87¢$158
Tennessee13.42¢$161
Kentucky13.80¢$154
Arkansas14.37¢$143
Mississippi14.43¢$174
Oklahoma14.82¢$148
North Carolina14.95¢$154
Florida14.99¢$169
South Carolina15.76¢$169
Georgia15.90¢$164
Texas15.91¢$178
West Virginia16.31¢$164
Alabama16.33¢$187
Virginia17.64¢$177
Delaware18.70¢$167
Maryland21.40¢$202
District of Columbia25.98¢$155

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), residential retail sales, latest month August 2026. Average bill and usage: 12 months to August 2026, computed from EIA revenue, sales and customer counts.

Solar: PVWatts v8 by the National Laboratory of the Rockies, 1 kW fixed roof system, 20° tilt, facing south, 14% losses.

How we calculate. Page updated 2026-11-15.