Mountain Electric Cooperative and solar
Mountain Electric Cooperative is an electric cooperative serving about 27,882 homes in North Carolina, Tennessee. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is a close call.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 13.9¢6% below North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $1391,002 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~25%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 15.2 yrs6.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Mountain Electric Cooperative 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 Mountain Electric Cooperative home
| System | 6.8 kW (80% of 1,002 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,480 |
| First-year savings | $1,308 |
| Payback | 15.2 years |
| 25-year net | $15,211 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 27,882
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Mountain Electric Cooperative and solar
Does Mountain Electric Cooperative have net metering?
Mountain Electric Cooperative 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 Mountain Electric Cooperative?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.9¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,002 kWh a month, a bill of about $139.
Is solar worth it with Mountain Electric Cooperative?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 6.8 kW system costing about $19,480 pays back in about 15.2 years, with $15,211 net over 25 years.
How many Mountain Electric Cooperative customers have solar?
Mountain Electric Cooperative did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: Mountain Electric Coop, Inc (EIA ID 13027). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.