Electricity cost in North Carolina, 2026
Homes in North Carolina paid an average of 14.94¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 18% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 9.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 17th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$40.34a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.22
- Per day
- $1.34 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $490.78 · 3,285 kWh
Wattage on the nameplate is the maximum. Thermostat-controlled appliances (fridges, heaters, AC) cycle, so their real cost is usually lower; a plug-in meter tells you exactly.
What appliances cost to run in North Carolina
At 14.94¢/kWh, 30-day month. Your utility's rate and fixed charges will differ; your bill's total divided by its kWh is your real price.
| Appliance | Watts | h/day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern, ENERGY STAR) | 150 | 10 | $6.72 | $81.80 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $125.50 | $1,527 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $32.27 | $392.62 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $40.34 | $490.78 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $60.51 | $736.17 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $18.15 | $220.85 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $42.22 | $513.68 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.24 | $27.27 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.30 | $52.35 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $6.05 | $73.62 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $2.69 | $32.72 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $51.63 | $628.20 |
North Carolina compared with its neighbors
North Carolina is in the EIA's South Atlantic region. July's price (15.16¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. It had the lowest price in its region.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 14.94 | +9.0% | 17 of 51 |
| Florida | 15.30 | +1.8% | 21 of 51 |
| Georgia | 15.40 | +4.5% | 22 of 51 |
| West Virginia | 15.47 | +0.8% | 25 of 51 |
| South Carolina | 15.93 | +7.6% | 26 of 51 |
| Virginia | 16.83 | +13.1% | 31 of 51 |
| Delaware | 17.86 | +6.6% | 33 of 51 |
| Maryland | 21.30 | +13.6% | 38 of 51 |
| District of Columbia | 24.66 | +17.8% | 42 of 51 |
Charging an EV in North Carolina
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $4.74 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $56.91 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Running backup power instead
A 7.5 kW portable generator at half load burns about 0.75 gallons of gasoline an hour, roughly 3.75 kWh. At $3.20 a gallon that is about 64¢ per kWh — 4.3 times North Carolina's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.