Typical customer: Close call

Jones-Onslow Electric Member and solar

Jones-Onslow Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 81,070 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.)
14.1¢4% below North Carolina average
Typical bill
$1601,131 kWh a month
Exports credited
~25%Net billing (reduced export credit)
Typical payback
14.7 yrs7.7 kW, cash

Export rules for Jones-Onslow 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.

North Carolina net metering details

Solar for a typical Jones-Onslow Electric Member home

System7.7 kW (80% of 1,131 kWh/month)
Cost$21,595
First-year savings$1,510
Payback14.7 years
25-year net$18,591

Uses the utility's average price.

Solar adoption

Homes with solar (2025)
692
Share of customers
0.9%
Residential solar capacity
5 MW
Residential customers
81,070

EIA-861, 2025.

Questions about Jones-Onslow Electric Member and solar

Does Jones-Onslow Electric Member have net metering?

Jones-Onslow 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 Jones-Onslow Electric Member?

Residential customers paid an average of 13.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.1¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,131 kWh a month, a bill of about $160.

Is solar worth it with Jones-Onslow Electric Member?

For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.7 kW system costing about $21,595 pays back in about 14.7 years, with $18,591 net over 25 years.

How many Jones-Onslow Electric Member customers have solar?

About 692 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).

Legal name: Jones-Onslow Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 9837). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.