HomeWattCost

Duke Energy Carolinas NC RS vs RSTC

For a typical North Carolina home using 1,029 kWh a month, RSTC is cheaper by about $114 a year ($154 against $163 a month). RSTC is cheaper at every level of use from 200 to 2,500 kWh a month, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility Duke Energy CarolinasTariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 1,029 kWh/mo, North Carolina

Head to head

ScenarioRSRSTCCheaper
Typical home, per month$163$154RSTC
All-in price per kWh15.9¢14.9¢RSTC
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$203$180RSTC
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$203$199RSTC
Fixed charge$15.35$15.35

Typical home: North Carolina average use by month (EIA), shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), before taxes. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 1,000 miles a month; cheapest start any hour on RS, 1 am on RSTC.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
RS$209$186$135$124$139$177$208$180$147$129$137$187
RSTC$196$171$126$114$135$171$200$173$141$116$127$174

RS: price by hour

July weekday.

Same price all day
14.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RSTC: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakMid-peakPeak
12.4¢9.5¢12.4¢25.6¢12.4¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RS or RSTC: common questions

Is RS or RSTC cheaper?

For a typical North Carolina home using 1,029 kWh a month, RSTC is cheaper by about $114 a year ($154 against $163 a month). RSTC is cheaper at every level of use from 200 to 2,500 kWh a month, with the same daily pattern of use. Adding an EV driven 1,000 miles a month and charged at each plan’s cheapest hour, RSTC gives the lower total ($180 against $203 a month).

What is the difference between RS and RSTC?

RS is flat: the same price at every hour, with a fixed charge of $15.35 a month. RSTC is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am; lowest price 1 am–6 am), with a fixed charge of $15.35 a month.

How the two plans work

RS: Residential Service

  • One price per kWh at every hour, all year: 14.4¢.
  • Shifting use to other hours changes nothing on this plan; using less is the only lever.
  • Fixed charge: $15.35 a month.

RSTC: Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing

  • Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–6 pm, Peak 6 pm–9 pm, Mid-peak 9 pm–12 am on July weekdays; 3 of 24 hours carry the top price of 25.6¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 9.5¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 16.1¢.
  • January weekdays range from 9.5¢ to 25.6¢.
  • Summer pricing applies May–Sep; winter pricing Oct–Apr.
  • Weekends differ: Mid-peak 12 am–1 am, Mid-peak 6 am–12 am.
  • Fixed charge: $15.35 a month.

Your own pattern of use decides the winner: compare every Duke Energy Carolinas plan on your usage, or see all Duke Energy Carolinas plans, sources and peak hours.