Electricity rates in Charlotte, NC
Charlotte (population 964,784) is served by Duke Energy Carolinas (North Carolina). A typical home on its cheapest plan open to any household, RSTC, pays about $156 a month, 14.91¢ per kWh all-in: 1% above the North Carolina average of the last 12 months.
Utility Duke Energy CarolinasPopulation Census 2025 estimateState average EIA, 12 months to August 2026
Typical all-in priceRSTC
Duke Energy Carolinas plans for a Charlotte home
| Plan | Typical bill | All-in ¢/kWh | Summer weekday windows | EV, 1,000 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSChecked | $165/mo | 15.84 | Same price all day | $40/mo |
| RSTCChecked | $156/mo | 14.91 | Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am | $26/mo |
Typical bill: average North Carolina use of 1,044 kWh a month, shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), averaged over the year. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 275 kWh a month from the wall, charging from its cheapest start hour. Full Duke Energy Carolinas tariff details and sources.
Charlotte electricity: common questions
Who provides electricity in Charlotte, NC?
The center of Charlotte lies in Duke Energy Carolinas (North Carolina)’s retail service territory, according to the federal service-territory map built from EIA-861 data. Territories are drawn approximately, so homes near the city limits can be served by another utility or cooperative; the name on your bill is the authority.
How much is electricity per kWh in Charlotte?
On Duke Energy Carolinas’s RSTC plan, a typical North Carolina home using 1,044 kWh a month pays about 14.91¢ per kWh all-in before taxes, or $156 a month. The North Carolina average over the last 12 months was 14.79¢ (EIA).
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Charlotte?
Driving 1,000 miles a month in a Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD adds about $26 a month on Duke Energy Carolinas’s RSTC plan when charging starts at its cheapest hour (1 am), against about $153 of gasoline for a 25.5 mpg car.
When is electricity cheapest in Charlotte?
Only on a time-of-use plan does the hour matter. On Duke Energy Carolinas’s RSTC, summer weekday prices are highest in these windows: RSTC: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am. Running dishwashers, laundry and EV charging outside them costs less. Find the cheapest hour for an appliance.
Calculators with Duke Energy Carolinas preloaded
Other cities in North Carolina
Sources: population, Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates; city location, Census Gazetteer; service territory, Electric Retail Service Territories (HIFLD/ORNL, from EIA-861); tariffs, see the Duke Energy Carolinas page.