Four County Electric Member and solar
Four County Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 31,222 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.)
- 15.9¢8% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $2041,279 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~22%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 12.8 yrs9.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Four County 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 Four County Electric Member home
| System | 9.8 kW (90% of 1,279 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $26,530 |
| First-year savings | $2,123 |
| Payback | 12.8 years |
| 25-year net | $30,962 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 137
- Share of customers
- 0.4%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1 MW
- Residential customers
- 31,222
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Four County Electric Member and solar
Does Four County Electric Member have net metering?
Four County 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 Four County Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,279 kWh a month, a bill of about $204.
Is solar worth it with Four County Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 9.8 kW system costing about $26,530 pays back in about 12.8 years, with $30,962 net over 25 years.
How many Four County Electric Member customers have solar?
About 137 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.4% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Four County Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 6640). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.