Haywood Electric Member and solar
Haywood Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 30,752 homes in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.8¢20% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $146822 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~20%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 12.3 yrs7 kW, cash
Export rules for Haywood 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 Haywood Electric Member home
| System | 7 kW (100% of 822 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,950 |
| First-year savings | $1,638 |
| Payback | 12.3 years |
| 25-year net | $25,290 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 211
- Share of customers
- 0.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 2 MW
- Residential customers
- 30,752
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Haywood Electric Member and solar
Does Haywood Electric Member have net metering?
Haywood 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 Haywood Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 822 kWh a month, a bill of about $146.
Is solar worth it with Haywood Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 7 kW system costing about $19,950 pays back in about 12.3 years, with $25,290 net over 25 years.
How many Haywood Electric Member customers have solar?
About 211 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Haywood Electric Member Corp (EIA ID 8333). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.