Under traditional net metering, a home's electric meter can run backward when the solar system produces more electricity than the home is using. The utility credits that excess energy at the same retail rate the member pays for electricity.
While this approach helped encourage rooftop solar adoption, it can also shift some of the costs of maintaining the electric grid to members who do not have solar. As a result, many electric utilities have begun moving away from traditional net metering.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative supports members who choose to install solar energy systems while ensuring rates remain fair for all members. CCEC members have two options for connecting their solar system to our electric grid:
Option 1: Buy All/Sell All
With the Buy All/Sell All option, two electric meters are installed:
CCEC purchases all the electricity generated by your solar system at an avoided-cost rate, which reflects the wholesale value of the energy. Your home continues to purchase electricity from the cooperative under your applicable retail rate.
This approach ensures that all members continue to share the cost of maintaining the poles, wires, substations, and other infrastructure needed to provide reliable electric service, helping prevent cost shifting between members with and without solar.
Option 2: Solar Plus Battery Storage with a Time-of-Use (TOU) Rate
Members who install solar panels with battery storage may choose to participate in CCEC's Residential Time-of-Use (TOU) rate instead of the Buy All/Sell All option.
Battery storage gives members greater flexibility by allowing them to:
This option benefits both members and the cooperative by encouraging energy use during lower-demand periods while helping reduce demand on the electric system during peak hours.
Which Option Is Right for You?
The best option depends on your solar system, whether you plan to install battery storage, and your energy use habits. Our Customer Service team can help you understand each option and determine which rate is the best fit for your home before you install your system.
Demand is measured as an average over a 15-minute period, not by the highest moment of electricity use. This means short bursts of electricity, like when an air conditioner or other large appliance starts, have very little impact on your billing demand.
For example, if your home uses 15 kilowatts (kW) continuously for the entire 15-minute period, your billing demand is 15 kW. If that same 15 kW load runs for only 5 minutes during the 15-minute period, your billing demand is only 5 kW because it was used for just one-third of the time.
Remember, billing demand is based on your average electricity use over 15 minutes, not a brief spike in usage.
Our time-of-use (TOU) rate gives you the potential to save money by using less energy when demand for electricity is high, or during on-peak hours, because the rate is significantly higher than our standard energy usage rate. Alternatively, this rate plan lets you shift your electricity use to off-peak hours when demand is low, and you'll pay less per kWh than our standard energy usage charge.
The on-peak demand charge is $11.84 per kW. The off-peak energy charge is 4.39¢ per kWh.
On-peak times are only in effect Monday through Friday.
Off-peak times are in effect all day Saturday, Sunday, and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When the holiday falls on Saturday, Friday will be observed as the holiday; when the holiday falls on Sunday, Monday will be observed as the holiday.
All members on the EV TOU rate will have a basic facilities charge ($30 for single-phase, $57.30 for three-phase). The on-peak demand charge is $11.84 per kW. The on-peak and off-peak energy charge is 4.68¢ per kWh; the super off-peak energy charge is 3.57¢ per kWh. Unlike the standard TOU and solar plus storage TOU rates, the EV TOU rate includes both weekends and holidays.
The EV TOU rate was aligned with the co-op’s cost of purchasing electricity. That's why the Super Off-Peak period applies every day, including weekends and holidays, giving members more opportunities to charge their electric vehicles at lower-cost times.
Off-peak times are in effect all day Saturday, Sunday, and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When the holiday falls on Saturday, Friday will be observed as the holiday; when the holiday falls on Sunday, Monday will be observed as the holiday.
Please note that this applies only to members on the standard and solar plus storage TOU rates.
The EV TOU rate includes both weekends and holidays.
Often, just a few small adjustments can save you money if you are willing to stick to the plan. First, evaluate what appliances and equipment are your biggest users of electricity. In general, electric devices that heat or cool are the big users. Some of these items include water heaters, air conditioners and heaters, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, hot tubs and saunas, and pool pumps. Next, decide if you can avoid using these electric devices during the peak periods. For devices that you only use occasionally or on a set periodic schedule, consider doing those activities on Saturday or Sunday which are always off-peak times.
Some examples of ways to shift your usage times are:
Timers can make it easy to concentrate your electric usage during off-peak times. Plug-in appliance timers are available for a modest price from most hardware and home improvement stores. They can be used to control room air conditioners or heaters, pool pumps, and even that extra freezer that you open only occasionally.
For hard-wired devices such as a water heater, consult with an electrician or heating and plumbing contractor for installation of a timer. A timer allows the device to only come on during off-peak times. You will need to adjust the timers twice a year to accommodate the winter and summer off-peak times.
Call us and let us evaluate your usage history and discuss your electric usage patterns for your home. After we analyze your usage, we can make a recommendation. Your actual savings will be based on how committed you are to shifting your usage to the off-peak times.
Because of the higher rate for on-peak usage, there is a potential that your costs could increase. After discussing the rate plan and your usage history and patterns, and you feel you can benefit from this rate, we can sign you up. A TOU meter will be installed at your home, and the rate will take effect once the meter has been set, and we will leave a door hanger letting you know the change has been made.
You may discontinue the Time-of Use rate after 12 months and go back to the standard rate. No adjustments will be made to prior bills if you would have paid less under the standard rate.
If you choose to come off the rate before the end of 12 months, you will be charged a $20 service fee.
