Albemarle Electric Member and solar
Albemarle Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 12,810 homes in North Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.0¢8% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $2091,307 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 12.7 yrs10 kW, cash
Export rules for Albemarle Electric Member customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (North Carolina rule).
Duke Energy's new solar customers choose between the 'Bridge Rate' (retail-style net metering, open until Jan 1, 2027 or caps fill) and Residential Solar Choice, which requires a time-of-use rate and credits monthly net exports at avoided cost (~3.4-4 cents). Both include a minimum bill.
Solar for a typical Albemarle Electric Member home
| System | 10 kW (90% of 1,307 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,000 |
| First-year savings | $2,174 |
| Payback | 12.7 years |
| 25-year net | $31,892 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 33
- Share of customers
- 0.3%
- Residential solar capacity
- 0 MW
- Residential customers
- 12,810
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Albemarle Electric Member and solar
Does Albemarle Electric Member have net metering?
Albemarle Electric Member follows North Carolina's rules: Duke Energy's new solar customers choose between the 'Bridge Rate' (retail-style net metering, open until Jan 1, 2027 or caps fill) and Residential Solar Choice, which requires a time-of-use rate and credits monthly net exports at avoided cost (~3.4-4 cents). Both include a minimum bill.
How much does electricity cost with Albemarle Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.0¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,307 kWh a month, a bill of about $209.
Is solar worth it with Albemarle Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 10 kW system costing about $27,000 pays back in about 12.7 years, with $31,892 net over 25 years.
How many Albemarle Electric Member customers have solar?
About 33 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.3% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Albemarle Electric Member Corp (EIA ID 240). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.