Carteret-Craven El Member and solar
Carteret-Craven El Member is an electric cooperative serving about 39,424 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.)
- 13.2¢11% below North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $1391,055 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~27%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 15.9 yrs7.2 kW, cash
Export rules for Carteret-Craven El 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 Carteret-Craven El Member home
| System | 7.2 kW (80% of 1,055 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $20,420 |
| First-year savings | $1,314 |
| Payback | 15.9 years |
| 25-year net | $14,117 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 39,424
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Carteret-Craven El Member and solar
Does Carteret-Craven El Member have net metering?
Carteret-Craven El 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 Carteret-Craven El Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.2¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,055 kWh a month, a bill of about $139.
Is solar worth it with Carteret-Craven El Member?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.2 kW system costing about $20,420 pays back in about 15.9 years, with $14,117 net over 25 years.
How many Carteret-Craven El Member customers have solar?
Carteret-Craven El Member did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Carteret-Craven El Member Corp (EIA ID 3107). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.