Mountain Electric Co-op electricity rates
Electric cooperative · North Carolina
Mountain Electric Co-op is a member-owned electric cooperative, so its customers own it and elect its board, serving 15,494 homes in North Carolina. Its residential customers pay an average of 13.87¢/kWh including fixed and delivery charges, 23% less than the U.S. average.
Rate basis: EIA-861 2025 annual data, adjusted to the 12 months ending 2026-07 using the state's price trend.
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Mountain Electric Co-op bill estimates
| Monthly use | At average all-in rate |
|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $69.35 |
| 1,000 kWh | $138.70 |
| 1,500 kWh | $208.05 |
| 2,000 kWh | $277.40 |
Mountain Electric Co-op residential rate plans
| Plan | Effective | Customer charge | Energy charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule RS- Residential Class 22time-of-use | 2014-10-01 | $15.75 | 6.8¢ (12am–12am) — summer weekdays |
| Residential Ratetime-of-use | 2014-06-01 | $15.75 | 9.5¢ (12am–12am) — summer weekdays |
Source: OpenEI U.S. Utility Rate Database. Rates change. Check the linked tariff or your bill for current figures.
Mountain Electric Co-op rate history
2015–2025: +25% change in the average residential rate (10.51¢ → 13.17¢). Annual EIA-861 data.
Outages & reliability
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Reliability history
| 2023 | Mountain Electric Co-op | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outage minutes per customer (SAIDI) | 187 | 195 | 266 |
| Outages per customer (SAIFI) | 1.95 | 1.38 | 1.34 |
| Average restoration time (CAIDI) | 96 min | — | — |
| Outage minutes excluding major storms | 187 | 139 | 121 |
Outages in counties served (2025)
From ORNL EAGLE-I, which tracks customers without power every 15 minutes. These counts cover every utility in each county. Weighted across Mountain Electric Co-op's counties, customers averaged 5 hr 23 min without power.
| County | Outage min/customer | Days with outages | Peak customers out | Worst day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga | 623 | 60 | 5,711 | 2025-02-12 |
| Burke | 296 | 61 | 2,199 | 2025-03-16 |
| Avery | 63 | 8 | 909 | 2025-02-12 |
Mountain Electric Co-op service area
Mountain Electric Co-op serves 3 counties in North Carolina and 24 ZIP codes.
Avery, Burke, Watauga
Cities: Boone, Morganton, Marion, Salem, Spruce Pine, Burnsville, Foscoe, West Marion, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk
Programs, smart meters & solar
| Smart meters (AMI) for homes | 100% |
| Time-based rate programs | None reported |
| Net-metered solar homes | 0 reported |
Mountain Electric Co-op at a glance
| Ownership | Electric cooperative |
| Services | — |
| Commercial rate | 14.31¢/kWh |
| Retail revenue (2025) | $39,502,000 |
| Electricity sold (2025) | 296,435 MWh |
| Balancing authority | TVA |
| EIA utility ID | 13027 |
Other utilities in North Carolina
Frequently asked questions
What is Mountain Electric Co-op's electricity rate?
Mountain Electric Co-op residential customers pay an average of 13.87¢ per kWh, all charges included (EIA-861 2025 annual data, adjusted to the 12 months ending 2026-07 using the state's price trend). That's 6% below the North Carolina average of 14.77¢ and 23% below the U.S. average.
What is the average Mountain Electric Co-op electric bill?
About $136 a month. The average Mountain Electric Co-op home uses 980 kWh a month. At 1,000 kWh the bill would be about $139.
How many customers does Mountain Electric Co-op have?
Mountain Electric Co-op serves 15,494 residential customers and 20,165 customers in total in North Carolina, across 3 counties.
How reliable is Mountain Electric Co-op?
In 2023, the average Mountain Electric Co-op customer was without power for 3 hr 7 min (SAIDI) over 1.95 interruptions (SAIFI), including major storms. Excluding major event days it was 3 hr 7 min. The North Carolina average was 3 hr 15 min and the U.S. average 4 hr 26 min.
Does Mountain Electric Co-op offer time-of-use rates?
Yes. The OpenEI rate database lists 2 time-of-use residential plans, including Schedule RS- Residential Class 22. Running big appliances off-peak can cut their cost. Pick the plan in the calculator above to see by how much.
Sources: EIA-861 2025 and EIA-861M (through July 2026), OpenEI URDB, ORNL EAGLE-I, U.S. Census. Methodology. Spot an error? Rates change often, so confirm with Mountain Electric Co-op before making decisions.