North Carolina · City
Commercial electricity in Charlotte, North Carolina
Which electric utilities serve businesses in Charlotte, what each charged commercial customers in EIA’s 2025 data, and where North Carolina’s prices stand.
EIA lists 7 electric utilities in Mecklenburg County, which contains Charlotte. Duke Energy Carolinas, the largest by commercial customers, averaged 9.25¢ per kWh for them in 2025. North Carolina’s average commercial price was 10.57¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026.
Source: EIA Form EIA-861 (2025) and Form EIA-861M; U.S. Census Bureau
Electric utilities serving Charlotte
These are the utilities EIA records in Mecklenburg County. EIA lists a utility in a county when it has customers anywhere in it, so this is everyone with a presence, ordered by commercial customers across North Carolina, not a statement about any one address. Prices are EIA’s averages over all of each utility’s commercial customers: revenue divided by kWh.
| Utility | Type | Commercial customers in NC | Average commercial price, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Carolinas | Investor-owned | 309,423 | 9.25¢ |
| EnergyUnited | Cooperative | 20,548 | 9.84¢ |
| Union Electric Membership Corp | Cooperative | 3,295 | 11.22¢ |
| Town of Huntersville | Municipal | 792 | 10.46¢ |
| Town of Cornelius | fewer than 500 commercial customers | ||
| Town of Pineville | fewer than 500 commercial customers | ||
| York Electric Coop Inc | fewer than 500 commercial customers |
Find the list for a single ZIP Code with the utility lookup, or set utilities side by side with the comparison tool.
What businesses in Charlotte pay
Across North Carolina, businesses paid an average 10.57¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026, 23.8% below the U.S. average of 13.87¢, and up 2.2% on the 12 months before. That ranks North Carolina 42 of 51, where 1 is the highest price. In 2025 the average commercial account in the state used 5,559 kWh a month, about $568 a month at the state price; that is a mean pulled up by a few very large users, so most small businesses use less.
A city has no price of its own: two businesses on the same street can pay very different amounts per kWh, because the rate schedule, the size of the peak and, where it is allowed, the supply contract matter more than the location. The North Carolina page has the state’s price history since 2010 and every utility with at least 500 commercial customers.
Choosing a supplier in Charlotte
North Carolina commercial accounts purchase supply from their regulated utility. Rate schedule fit and demand charges drive the controllable cost.
Where prices are heading
EIA does not forecast single states. For the South Atlantic census division, which includes North Carolina, its November 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook puts the average commercial price at 12.20¢ per kWh for 2026 and 12.31¢ for 2027, up 8.1% from 11.39¢ in 2025. The forecast for every region.
About Charlotte
The Census Bureau estimates Charlotte had 964,784 residents on July 1, 2025, up 10.3% from 874,907 in 2020. It lies in Mecklenburg County.
Other cities in North Carolina
Common questions
- Who provides electricity to businesses in Charlotte?
- EIA lists Duke Energy Carolinas, EnergyUnited, Union Electric Membership Corp and Town of Huntersville and 3 more as electric utilities in Mecklenburg County. Which one serves a given address depends on the street; the utility on an existing bill is the definitive answer, and a utility can confirm service for a new site.
- What is the average commercial electricity rate in Charlotte?
- There is no official figure for a city. EIA publishes prices by state and by utility: Duke Energy Carolinas averaged 9.25¢ per kWh for its commercial customers in 2025, and North Carolina averaged 10.57¢ over the 12 months to August 2026. A business’s own price depends on its rate schedule, its demand and, where it can choose, its supply contract.
- Can a business in Charlotte choose its electricity supplier?
- North Carolina commercial accounts purchase supply from their regulated utility. Rate schedule fit and demand charges drive the controllable cost. The state page for North Carolina explains how it works and who regulates it.
Averages describe Charlotte; a bill describes your business. A person can read yours: rate schedule, demand, riders, contract window. Nobody calls unless you ask.