South River Electric Member and solar
South River Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 46,422 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.)
- 15.4¢4% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $2001,305 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~23%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 13.3 yrs10 kW, cash
Export rules for South River 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 South River Electric Member home
| System | 10 kW (90% of 1,305 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,000 |
| First-year savings | $2,090 |
| Payback | 13.3 years |
| 25-year net | $29,273 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 790
- Share of customers
- 1.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 7 MW
- Residential customers
- 46,422
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about South River Electric Member and solar
Does South River Electric Member have net metering?
South River 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 South River Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 14.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 15.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,305 kWh a month, a bill of about $200.
Is solar worth it with South River Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 10 kW system costing about $27,000 pays back in about 13.3 years, with $29,273 net over 25 years.
How many South River Electric Member customers have solar?
About 790 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: South River Elec Member Corp (EIA ID 17572). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.