Rutherford Electric Member and solar
Rutherford Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 72,060 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.)
- 13.7¢7% below North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $1571,144 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~25%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 15.1 yrs7.8 kW, cash
Export rules for Rutherford 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 Rutherford Electric Member home
| System | 7.8 kW (80% of 1,144 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $21,830 |
| First-year savings | $1,487 |
| Payback | 15.1 years |
| 25-year net | $17,564 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 437
- Share of customers
- 0.6%
- Residential solar capacity
- 3 MW
- Residential customers
- 72,060
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Rutherford Electric Member and solar
Does Rutherford Electric Member have net metering?
Rutherford 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 Rutherford Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.0¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 13.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,144 kWh a month, a bill of about $157.
Is solar worth it with Rutherford Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 7.8 kW system costing about $21,830 pays back in about 15.1 years, with $17,564 net over 25 years.
How many Rutherford Electric Member customers have solar?
About 437 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.6% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Rutherford Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 16496). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.