North Carolina · Investor Owned · serves 752 ZIP codes
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC rate plans
22 residential plans are currently open to new customers that we can price side by side. Some charge different prices depending on the hour — which is where most of the savings hide.
Looking for when the expensive hours are? Duke Energy Carolinas’ peak hours, plan by plan →
What does Duke Energy Carolinas cost at a normal month’s usage?
A household using 1,000 kWh a month pays about $1,510 a year on the cheapest of the 22 plans we can price here — RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)) — and $2,098 on the priciest. Same house, same wires.
| A month of | Cheapest, a year | On which plan | Priciest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | $839 | RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)) | $1,198 |
| 1,000 kWh | $1,510 | RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)) | $2,098 |
| 2,000 kWh | $2,853 | RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)) | $3,898 |
The same plan is cheapest at every level of use here, so the answer does not turn on how much you use. Estimates from the filed tariff, priced hour by hour on a household with central air — not a quote.
How much does the plan you pick actually matter here?
Run the same three-bedroom house with central air through every plan Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC files, and the bill lands anywhere between $1,225 and $1,715 a year. That $490 spread is not a difference in electricity — it is the same kilowatt-hours, from the same wires, priced under different rules. Nobody sends you a letter when you are on the wrong side of it.
The plan most households land on by default, Residential Service (RES-55) Single Phase, comes to about $1,574. The cheapest option here, RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)), comes to $1,225 — a gap of about $349 a year for a household that never changed a single habit. Whether you can actually capture that depends on when you use power, which is what the calculator below is for.
10 of these 22 plans price by the hour. Those are the ones where moving laundry, dishes, or car charging into the cheap window changes the bill; on the rest, the clock is irrelevant and only the total matters. Which camp you belong in is the first question worth settling, because it decides whether shifting your day is worth anything at all.
Watch the fixed charges too. Across these plans they run from $141 to $298 a year before a single kilowatt-hour is counted. For a small household that difference alone can outweigh the per-kWh price, which is why comparing cents per kilowatt-hour on its own quietly misleads.
How Duke Energy Carolinas compares across North Carolina
Run the same three-bedroom house with central air through its default plan at each of the 9 North Carolina utilities we cover, and Duke Energy Carolinas comes in 5th cheapest at about $1,574 a year; the state median is $1,574. The range runs from $1,143 at City of Concord to $1,945 at Roanoke Electric Member, and since the utility is set by the address, the part of that gap you can act on is the plan, not the company.
The other two households tell the same story in different sizes: a small apartment pays about $879 here against a state median of $920, and the same house with an electric car charging overnight about $2,115 against $2,115. Effective rate, fixed charge included, is 16.6¢ per kilowatt-hour for the family home.
Inside Duke Energy Carolinas itself, the gap between its cheapest and dearest plan for that house is $490 a year — less than the $802 between North Carolina's cheapest and dearest utilities. Here the address decides most of the bill; the plan decides the rest.
Every North Carolina utility we cover, priced for the same three households →
Which plan would cost you least?
No bill upload, no sign-up. Tell us roughly what a month costs you and what runs on electricity — we price every plan against the same household and show you the gap.
That adds up to 11,445 kWh a year. Compare it to the total on your bill and adjust until it’s close.
Same usage, different plan
$792a year
That is the gap between the cheapest plan you could be on — RT (Residential Service Time of Use) — and the priciest. Not by using less power. By being billed differently for the same power.
| Plan | Per year | Vs best |
|---|---|---|
| RT (Residential Service Time of Use)Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,213 | — |
| Residential Time-of-Use RTPeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,257 | +$45 |
| Residential Service-Time of Use (R-TOUD) - Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,294 | +$81 |
| Residential Time Of Use Schedule (R-TOUD) - Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,372 | +$159 |
| Residential Service Time-of-Use (R-TOUD-55) Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,393 | +$181 |
| RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing))Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,441 | +$229 |
| Residential Service Energy Star All-Electric ESOne rate, every hour of the year. | $1,486 | +$273 |
| ES (Residential Service Energy Star, All-Electric)The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April. | $1,493 | +$280 |
| Residential Service Time-of-Use (R-TOUD-55) Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,501 | +$289 |
| RSTC (Residential Service Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,523 | +$310 |
| ES (Residential Service Energy Star, Standard)One rate, every hour of the year. | $1,557 | +$344 |
| RE (Residential Electric Water Heating and Space Conditioning)The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April. | $1,560 | +$347 |
| Residential Electric Water Heating and Space Conditioning - REOne rate, every hour of the year. | $1,563 | +$350 |
| Residential Service Energy Star Standard ESOne rate, every hour of the year. | $1,598 | +$385 |
| RS (Residential Service)One rate, every hour of the year. | $1,627 | +$414 |
| Residential - RS (SC)One rate, every hour of the year. | $1,681 | +$468 |
| Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing (R-TOU-CPP) Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,781 | +$568 |
| Residential Time of Use EV(R-TOU-EV) Single PhasePeak hits 5am–11pm every day, all year. | $1,827 | +$614 |
| Residential Service Time-of-Use with Critical Peak Pricing(R-TOU-CPP) Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,857 | +$645 |
| Residential Service (RES-55) Single PhaseThe hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April. | $1,864 | +$651 |
| Residential Service - Single PhaseThe hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak November–April. | $1,864 | +$652 |
| Residential Service Solar Time-of-Use (R-STOU) Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Dec–Feb, 6pm–9pm in Mar–Nov — every day. | $1,866 | +$653 |
| Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing (R-TOU-CPP) Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,889 | +$676 |
| Residential Time of Use (R-TOU) Single PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,897 | +$684 |
| Residential Time of Use EV(R-TOU-EV) Three PhasePeak hits 5am–11pm every day, all year. | $1,935 | +$722 |
| Residential Service Time-of-Use with Critical Peak Pricing(R-TOU-CPP) Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $1,965 | +$753 |
| Residential Service - Three PhaseThe hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak November–June. | $1,969 | +$757 |
| Residential Service (RES-55) Three PhaseThe hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April. | $1,972 | +$759 |
| Residential Service Solar Time-of-Use (R-STOU) Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Dec–Feb, 6pm–9pm in Mar–Nov — every day. | $1,974 | +$761 |
| Residential Time of Use (R-TOU) Three PhasePeak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day. | $2,005 | +$792 |
An estimate, not a quote. Supply charges move month to month, and your real usage pattern is not exactly this one. What it does show reliably is the gap between plans — both are priced off the same assumptions.
Before you switch anything
- What is a time-of-use electricity rate?
The same kilowatt-hour, priced differently depending on when you use it.
- Should you switch to a time-of-use electricity plan?
A wide peak-to-off-peak gap is a lever, not a saving. Levers need something to move.
- How to compare electricity plans without getting it wrong
Six things that break a comparison, and the order to check them in.
Every plan, in detail
Hour-by-hour schedules, tier thresholds, and the tariff each one comes from.
- ES (Residential Service Energy Star, All-Electric)flat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April.
10.6–11.7¢ - ES (Residential Service Energy Star, Standard)flat
One rate, every hour of the year.
12.1¢ - RE (Residential Electric Water Heating and Space Conditioning)flat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April.
11.1–12.3¢ - Residential - RS (SC)flat
One rate, every hour of the year.
13.4–14.2¢ - Residential Electric Water Heating and Space Conditioning - REflat
One rate, every hour of the year.
12.4–13.1¢ - Residential Service - Single Phaseflat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak November–April.
13.7–14.7¢ - Residential Service - Three Phaseflat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak November–June.
13.7–14.7¢ - Residential Service (RES-55) Single Phaseflat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April.
14.2–15.2¢ - Residential Service (RES-55) Three Phaseflat
The hour never matters here — only the season. Rates peak October–April.
14.2–15.2¢ - Residential Service Energy Star All-Electric ESflat
One rate, every hour of the year.
11.7–12.4¢ - Residential Service Energy Star Standard ESflat
One rate, every hour of the year.
12.7–13.4¢ - Residential Service Solar Time-of-Use (R-STOU) Single Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Dec–Feb, 6pm–9pm in Mar–Nov — every day.
10.8–21.2¢ - Residential Service Solar Time-of-Use (R-STOU) Three Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Dec–Feb, 6pm–9pm in Mar–Nov — every day.
10.8–21.2¢ - Residential Service Time-of-Use (R-TOUD-55) Single Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
7.0–20.6¢ - Residential Service Time-of-Use (R-TOUD-55) Three Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
7.0–20.6¢ - Residential Service Time-of-Use with Critical Peak Pricing(R-TOU-CPP) Single Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
9.5–29.7¢ - Residential Service Time-of-Use with Critical Peak Pricing(R-TOU-CPP) Three Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
9.5–29.7¢ - Residential Service-Time of Use (R-TOUD) - Single Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
6.4–17.7¢ - Residential Time of Use (R-TOU) Single Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
9.5–32.0¢ - Residential Time of Use (R-TOU) Three Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
9.5–32.0¢ - Residential Time of Use EV(R-TOU-EV) Single Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 5am–11pm every day, all year.
8.6–15.2¢ - Residential Time of Use EV(R-TOU-EV) Three Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 5am–11pm every day, all year.
8.6–15.2¢ - Residential Time Of Use Schedule (R-TOUD) - Three Phasedemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
6.4–17.7¢ - Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing (R-TOU-CPP) Single Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
10.4–24.0¢ - Residential Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing (R-TOU-CPP) Three Phasetime-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
10.4–24.0¢ - Residential Time-of-Use RTdemand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
5.6–19.7¢ - RETC (Residential Service All-Electric Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing))time-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
7.5–21.8¢ - RS (Residential Service)flat
One rate, every hour of the year.
12.8¢ - RSTC (Residential Service Time of Use with Critical Peak Pricing)time-of-use
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
7.9–24.0¢ - RT (Residential Service Time of Use)demand charge
Peak hits 6am–9am in Oct–Apr, 6pm–9pm in May–Sep — every day.
5.9–17.6¢