North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

What North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives does

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives (NCEC) is the statewide trade association and support organization for a network of 26 locally owned and operated, member-owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives. Collectively the network delivers electricity to 2.8 million households and businesses across 93 of North Carolina's 100 counties, powering roughly 45% of the state's land mass. The cooperatives operate under a regulated, member-elected governance model and are supported by three statewide organizations—the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, and TEMA, the jointly controlled materials and supply arm founded in 1976 that provides bulk purchasing across NC, Virginia, and Maryland.

The network's product portfolio centers on electric power distribution and is being actively modernized. Core technology includes battery energy storage systems (43 projects operating or in development as of April 2025—the highest count of any state), microgrid deployments (including on Ocracoke Island and a DOE-supported Microgrid @ Scale Project), solar + storage pairings, residential solar interconnection services, and a real-time Outage Map digital service. The cooperatives are interconnected through a mutual aid network of more than 30 co-ops across 11 states that enables rapid storm response, demonstrated during Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024 when 11 states sent crews. Additional programs include the Bright Ideas education grant initiative (awarding over $812,000 to 741 K-12 projects in 2025), USDA REDLG-funded rural economic development, and community partnerships such as youth programs and veteran transition support.

NCEC operates as a not-for-profit utility cooperative; revenue is generated through member electricity rates designed to cover operational costs and capital investment rather than to generate profit, and consolidated financial figures are not publicly disclosed. Recent strategic activity centers on long-duration capacity commitments—notably a 195 MW co-ownership stake (100 MW NCEMC + 95 MW Central Electric) in Duke Energy's new 1,365 MW combined cycle natural gas plant slated for service in early 2031—alongside aggressive renewable buildout, cybersecurity hardening via Horizon3.ai, and ongoing leadership succession under new CEO Amadou Fall.

Name

North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Legal name

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives

Website

https://ncelectriccooperatives.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives is a member-owned network of 26 not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives delivering electricity to 2.8 million households and businesses across 93 of North Carolina's 100 counties, with growing capabilities in battery storage, microgrids, and solar integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Electric Cooperatives (Rural/Member-Owned Utilities) (EUADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ), C&I Renewable Supply & Green Tariffs (Bundled RE, Sleeves, Utility Green Tariffs) (EUAGACAE)

Keywords

• Electric utility distribution
• Rural electric cooperatives
• Grid modernization services
• Renewable energy programs
• Member-owned energy

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives is the statewide trade association representing a network of 26 locally owned, not-for-profit electric distribution cooperatives that deliver electricity and energy services to 2.8 million households and businesses across 93 of North Carolina's 100 counties. The organization provides electricity distribution, grid modernization including battery storage and microgrids, renewable energy integration, residential solar programs, energy efficiency services, storm response and outage management, and community programs such as Bright Ideas education grants.

Product overview

North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives is a network of 26 locally owned and operated electric distribution cooperatives serving 2.8 million members across 93 counties. The organization provides core electricity distribution services alongside energy technology programs including Battery Energy Storage Systems, Microgrids, and Solar + Storage solutions. Additional offerings include residential solar programs, energy efficiency guidance, and an Outage Map digital service. The cooperative also operates community programs including Bright Ideas Education Grants for K-12 educators and Youth Basketball Camp Scholarships in partnership with UNC and NC State. Economic development is supported through the REDLG program in partnership with USDA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bright Ideas: Education grant program supporting innovative classroom projects across North Carolina schools
• Tarheel Electric Membership Association (TEMA)

Products and services

• Battery Energy Storage Systems Grid-scale battery storage deployed across the cooperative network to improve reliability, integrate renewable energy, and manage peak demand costs; demonstrated by Wake Electric with 58-millisecond outage response during a 2022 storm.
• Microgrids Small-scale power grids that can operate independently or connected to the main grid, providing resilient electricity and outage protection to rural communities.
• Solar + Storage Solar generation paired with battery storage, providing renewable energy and backup power capabilities for cooperative members.
• Residential Solar Programs Guidance and renewable interconnection services that enable residential members to add distributed rooftop solar generation to the grid.
• Energy Efficiency Programs Energy-saving tips and programs that help cooperative members reduce electricity consumption and manage costs.
• Outage Map Real-time digital outage tracking system providing cooperative members with restoration updates across the statewide network.
• Bright Ideas Education Grants Education grant program funding innovative K-12 classroom projects; in 2025 awarded more than $812,000 supporting 741 projects statewide, with nearly $17 million cumulative funding for over 16,000 projects since inception.
• Youth Basketball Camp Scholarships Scholarships enabling middle school students to attend UNC men's basketball and NC State women's basketball camps across North Carolina.
• Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program USDA zero-interest loans and grants administered through the cooperative network to fund rural projects that create and retain jobs and improve quality of life; cooperatives received nearly $10.8 million for 17 projects in 2024 and more than $39 million over the past five years across 78 awards.
• Cooperative Ready Sites Site readiness program for businesses evaluating locations within cooperative service territories, supporting economic development.
• Lineman Training Academy Statewide lineworker training program operated with Nash Community College since 1998, providing two-year associate degree pathways for new lineworkers supporting cooperative network operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wake Electric battery systems demonstrated 58-millisecond outage duration compared to over seven hours for non-battery customers during 2022 storm
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Electric Power CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Central Electric Power Cooperative will co-own 95 MW of capacity from Duke Energy's new 1,365-MW combined cycle natural gas power plant in Anderson County, South Carolina. Construction begins summer 2027 with service expected by early 2031.
• North Carolina Electric Membership CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation will co-own 100 MW of capacity from Duke Energy's new 1,365-MW combined cycle natural gas power plant in Anderson County, South Carolina. Construction begins summer 2027 with service expected by early 2031.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill Apprenticeship ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026EnergyUnited participates in the federal GI Bill apprenticeship program, allowing eligible veterans to receive monthly housing benefits while completing on-the-job training. The program helps veterans transition to civilian careers while building the skilled workforce needed for the energy industry.
• The Honor FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025North Carolina's Electric Co-ops Partner with The Honor Foundation to Support Veterans Building New Careers. The partnership supports veterans transitioning from military service to civilian careers in the energy sector.
• Nash Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2025Since 1998, North Carolina's electric cooperatives have partnered with Nash Community College to operate the Lineman Training Academy. The program provides training for new lineworkers and allows students to graduate with an associate degree in two years, combining job training with academic curriculum.
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2025Central Electric partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that builds and delivers handmade beds to children in need. Central Electric employees volunteered to build beds, and the cooperative provided funding for mattresses and sheets. The partnership addressed childhood bedlessness in the cooperative's service territory.
• Horizon3.aicoreTechnology or Integration · 28 January 2025North Carolina Electric Cooperatives (NCEC) has adopted Horizon3.ai's NodeZero platform to enhance cybersecurity across its network of 26 cooperatives. The platform enables continuous penetration testing and vulnerability management, improving security resilience and operational efficiency. NCEC plans to extend cybersecurity improvements through ongoing testing, external validation, and executive visibility initiatives.
• U.S. Department of Energy Energy Innovator FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2024Cara Johnson serves as DOE Energy Innovator Fellow with NC Electric Cooperatives, working on the Microgrid @ Scale Project. The project uses data from existing microgrids to create a scalable framework that can be replicated across the state, benefiting rural communities through resilient power solutions.
• NC Department of Adult CorrectionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 November 2024Brunswick Electric launched a 500 kW solar project in collaboration with the NC Department of Adult Correction, demonstrating renewable energy partnerships with government entities.
• hep solarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024EnergyUnited partnered with hep solar to commission the Perendale Solar Farm, an 8.2-megawatt solar facility in Davie County. hep solar owns and operates the facility, with all energy sold exclusively to EnergyUnited. This is part of EnergyUnited's broader Solar Work Plan aiming to develop 25 MW of solar power over two years and 100 MW by 2031.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oglethorpe Power Corporation: Member-owned generation and transmission cooperative serving 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) across Georgia. Closest structural analog to NC's network with comparable wholesale power and capacity co-ownership role for distribution co-ops.
• Seminole Electric Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative supplying wholesale power to nine distribution co-ops in Florida. Comparable in serving a statewide network of distribution cooperatives via centralized generation, transmission, and capacity planning.
• PowerSouth Energy Cooperative: Alabama-based generation and transmission cooperative serving 22 distribution members across Alabama and northwest Florida. Similar wholesale G&T structure with significant natural gas and solar generation assets comparable to NC's Central Electric/NCEMC arrangement.
• Brazos Electric Power Cooperative: Texas G&T cooperative serving 16 distribution co-op members (now reorganized post-2021 winter storm). Comparable cooperative-at-scale wholesale power provider with overlapping challenges in storm response and capacity planning.
• Associated Electric Cooperative: Missouri-based G&T cooperative serving members across Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Comparable in providing fuel, generation, and transmission services to a multi-state network of distribution co-ops.
• Cooperative Energy (Mississippi): Generation and transmission cooperative serving 11 distribution member systems across Mississippi. Closely comparable in scale, member-owned structure, and wholesale power provision role to distribution co-ops.
• Hoosier Energy: Indiana-based G&T cooperative supplying wholesale power to member distribution co-ops. Comparable in scale, generation mix diversification (gas, solar, wind), and member services portfolio to NC's statewide co-op network.

Emerging players

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: National brand and services alliance of 750+ local electric cooperatives across the U.S. Provides shared branding, training, and best-practice dissemination directly relevant to NC's network export of BESS and microgrid operational playbooks.

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy: Largest investor-owned utility in North Carolina and the dominant transmission/generation counterparty. Directly relevant as the FERC-disputed counterparty, the Anderson County CCGT capacity partner, and the principal competitive incumbent within overlapping service territory.

Regional players

• Santee Cooper (South Carolina Public Service Authority): State-owned electric and water utility serving South Carolina. Adjacent regional peer offering generation and distribution services with overlapping Carolinas territory and similar cooperative-adjacent governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCelectriccoop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCc-Lie3mrewHCf9MPBcT-ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncelectriccooperatives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives