Union Electric Membership and solar
Union Electric Membership is an electric cooperative serving about 86,852 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.)
- 14.7¢1% below North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $1791,220 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~24%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 14 yrs9.3 kW, cash
Export rules for Union Electric Membership 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 Union Electric Membership home
| System | 9.3 kW (90% of 1,220 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $25,355 |
| First-year savings | $1,862 |
| Payback | 14.0 years |
| 25-year net | $24,417 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 652
- Share of customers
- 0.8%
- Residential solar capacity
- 5 MW
- Residential customers
- 86,852
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Union Electric Membership and solar
Does Union Electric Membership have net metering?
Union Electric Membership 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 Union Electric Membership?
Residential customers paid an average of 13.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 14.7¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,220 kWh a month, a bill of about $179.
Is solar worth it with Union Electric Membership?
For a typical customer, solar is a close call: a 9.3 kW system costing about $25,355 pays back in about 14 years, with $24,417 net over 25 years.
How many Union Electric Membership customers have solar?
About 652 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 0.8% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Union Electric Membership Corp - (NC) (EIA ID 19435). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.