Average Electric Bill

Rates by state / North Carolina

Residential electricity · updated July 2026

Average electric bill in North Carolina

The average North Carolina home paid 14.8¢ per kWh and about $152 a month over the 12 months to July 2026, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data. That rate is 18% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 35th highest of 50 states and D.C.

Average rate

14.8¢/kWh

12 months to Jul 2026. Latest month 15.2¢.

Average bill

$152/mo

Average use × average rate

Average use

1,029kWh/mo

Per residential customer

1-year change

+5.8%

5 years: +31.0%

North Carolina electric bills by month

What the average residential customer actually paid each month: total residential revenue ÷ customers. Source: EIA.

MonthAvg useAvg rateAvg bill
July 20261,338 kWh15.2¢$203
June 20261,125 kWh14.7¢$166
May 2026864 kWh15.1¢$130
April 2026756 kWh16.3¢$123
March 2026834 kWh16.0¢$133
February 20261,185 kWh14.6¢$173
January 20261,351 kWh13.7¢$185
December 20251,198 kWh13.5¢$161
November 2025847 kWh14.6¢$124
October 2025790 kWh15.1¢$119
September 2025917 kWh15.1¢$139
August 20251,145 kWh14.6¢$167

Typical bill by home size in North Carolina

Monthly use of typical homes, all household sizes, priced at North Carolina's average rate of 14.8¢. Source: EIA RECS 2020 and EIA retail sales.

Home sizeTypical useMost homesTypical bill
Under 1,000 sq ft513 kWh319–810 kWh$76
1,000–1,499 sq ft781 kWh542–1,102 kWh$115
1,500–1,999 sq ft947 kWh660–1,326 kWh$140
2,000–2,999 sq ft1,136 kWh825–1,575 kWh$168
3,000+ sq ft1,422 kWh1,030–1,992 kWh$210

Summer and winter months run higher than these yearly averages. Check your own bill to compare a specific month.

What uses the most electricity in North Carolina homes

Average yearly use by purpose for North Carolina homes, priced at 14.8¢ per kWh. Source: EIA RECS 2020 (479 surveyed homes).

UsekWh / yr≈ $ / mo
Air conditioning2,622 (21%)$32
Space heating2,193 (18%)$27
Water heating2,171 (17%)$27
Everything else plugged in1,486 (12%)$18
Refrigerators and freezers1,018 (8%)$13
Lighting673 (5%)$8
Washer and dryer672 (5%)$8
TVs and electronics615 (5%)$8
Cooking and dishwasher461 (4%)$6
Fans and dehumidifiers451 (4%)$6
Pool and hot tub121 (1%)$1
EV charging14 (0%)$0

Why is my electric bill so high?

Monthly rate, last 5 years

510152020222023202420252026¢/kWh
North CarolinaU.S. average

Monthly prices swing with the season because fixed charges are spread over fewer or more kWh.

How much electricity North Carolina homes use

5007501,0001,2501,5001,75020222023202420252026kWh
kWh per home per month

Electricity rates by utility in North Carolina

Average residential revenue per kWh in 2025, largest 25 of 54 by customers. Source: EIA-861.

UtilityCustomersRateAvg use / mo1-yr change
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC1,961,10813.4¢996 kWh-3.8%
Duke Energy Progress - (NC)1,383,94115.2¢1,046 kWh-2.3%
EnergyUnited Elec Member Corp124,44611.6¢1,215 kWh+0.6%
Virginia Electric & Power Co109,05712.7¢1,285 kWh-8.5%
Brunswick Electric Member Corp108,08713.3¢1,081 kWh-2.3%
Union Electric Membership Corp - (NC)86,85213.9¢1,220 kWh+4.1%
Jones-Onslow Elec Member Corp81,07013.4¢1,131 kWh+2.3%
Fayetteville Public Works Commission75,61812.1¢1,004 kWh-0.6%
Blue Ridge Elec Member Corp - (NC)72,32014.9¢904 kWh+2.3%
Rutherford Elec Member Corp72,06013.0¢1,144 kWh-0.8%
Greenville Utilities Comm66,77912.7¢1,032 kWh+5.9%
Lumbee River Elec Member Corp65,42214.3¢1,352 kWh+11.8%
Wake Electric Membership Corp56,06914.3¢1,122 kWh+6.5%
South River Elec Member Corp46,42214.6¢1,305 kWh+9.5%
Carteret-Craven El Member Corp39,42412.5¢1,055 kWh+2.6%
Town of High Point38,55311.7¢932 kWh+0.3%
French Broad Elec Member Corp36,04916.2¢808 kWh+9.7%
City of Wilson - (NC)32,47212.8¢1,115 kWh+5.9%
Randolph Electric Member Corp31,53116.1¢1,054 kWh+1.5%
Four County Elec Member Corp31,22215.1¢1,279 kWh+8.0%
Piedmont Electric Member Corp30,64015.6¢1,189 kWh+0.2%
Haywood Electric Member Corp30,30716.9¢823 kWh+1.6%
City of Concord - (NC)30,02911.6¢1,034 kWh-2.3%
Town of Apex- (NC)29,75416.7¢762 kWh+58.9%
Surry-Yadkin Elec Member Corp28,29617.5¢1,059 kWh+9.2%
All 54 utilities in North Carolina

North Carolina electricity: common questions

What is the average electric bill in North Carolina?
The average North Carolina household pays about $152 a month for electricity, based on 1,029 kWh of use at 14.8¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026 (U.S. Energy Information Administration data).
How much does electricity cost per kWh in North Carolina?
Residential electricity in North Carolina averaged 14.8¢ per kWh over the 12 months to July 2026, and 15.2¢ in July 2026 alone. That is 18% below the U.S. average of 18.0¢, the 35th highest of the 50 states and D.C. These averages spread fixed service charges and surcharges over each kWh. Sales taxes added to bills may not be included.
When are electric bills highest in North Carolina?
In the last 12 months, the average North Carolina bill peaked in July 2026 at $203 and was lowest in October 2025 at $119.
How much electricity does a 1,500–1,999 sq ft home use in North Carolina?
A typical North Carolina home of 1,500–1,999 square feet uses about 947 kWh a month, and most use between 660 and 1,326 kWh. At the state's average rate that is roughly $140 a month. Based on EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS 2020).
Are electricity rates going up in North Carolina?
North Carolina's average residential rate changed +5.8% compared with the previous 12 months and +31.0% over five years.
What uses the most electricity in North Carolina homes?
In a typical North Carolina home, air conditioning uses the most electricity (about 2,622 kWh a year, 21% of the total), followed by space heating (18%) and water heating (17%). Homes heated with electricity use about 13,437 kWh a year, compared with 10,938 kWh for homes heated another way. Source: EIA RECS 2020.
How do I know if my North Carolina electric bill is too high?
Compare two things: how many kWh you used against similar homes, and what you paid per kWh against the state average. The free bill check on AverageElectricBill.com does both from the numbers on your bill, adjusting for the month and your home's size.

States with similar rates

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