Blue Ridge Electric Member and solar
Blue Ridge Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 72,320 homes in North Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 15.7¢7% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $142904 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 13.6 yrs6.9 kW, cash
Export rules for Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Electric Member home
| System | 6.9 kW (90% of 904 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,715 |
| First-year savings | $1,478 |
| Payback | 13.6 years |
| 25-year net | $20,244 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 377
- Share of customers
- 0.5%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 72,320
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Blue Ridge Electric Member and solar
Does Blue Ridge Electric Member have net metering?
Blue Ridge 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 Blue Ridge Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 904 kWh a month, a bill of about $142.
Is solar worth it with Blue Ridge Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 6.9 kW system costing about $19,715 pays back in about 13.6 years, with $20,244 net over 25 years.
How many Blue Ridge Electric Member customers have solar?
About 377 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.5% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Blue Ridge Elec Member Corp - (NC) (EIA ID 1889). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.