Haywood Emc

What Haywood Emc does

Haywood Electric Membership Corporation (Haywood EMC) is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative founded on October 20, 1938, in Haywood County, North Carolina. It distributes electricity to approximately 29,545 meters across 8 counties in 3 states (North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia), operating roughly 3,045 miles of overhead power line maintained by 74 employees and supported by 40,500+ utility poles. The cooperative is governed by a 7-member board of directors elected by its member-owners, with any annual margins (revenues minus expenses) allocated back to members as Capital Credits rather than distributed to external shareholders.

The cooperative's core technology stack is conventional distribution infrastructure (overhead lines, substations, smart meters) augmented by the SmartHub member portal for billing, usage monitoring, and outage reporting, and a satellite-mapping-based vegetation management program covering 2,000+ miles of right-of-way. Product offerings beyond core kWh distribution include the Community Solar Program (subscription-based solar blocks launched May 2024 at $1.79/panel/month), public EV fast charging stations (installed February 2022), energy efficiency rebates (heat pumps, Energy Star Home Advisor, NC GreenPower), and security lighting services.

Haywood EMC's revenue model is a regulated usage-based kWh tariff supplemented by subscription fees (Community Solar, Equal Payment Plan, security lighting), one-time connection and service charges, and Capital Credits retirements (over $1M returned to members annually for 7 consecutive years). The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer within the exclusive cooperative franchise territory, with member acquisition occurring organically through property service connections in the rural mountain counties of Western North Carolina. The cooperative also runs community-facing programs (Bright Ideas education grants, fire department grants, Youth Tour scholarships) that reinforce member engagement but are not material revenue generators.

Name

Haywood Emc

Legal name

Haywood Electric Membership Corporation

Website

https://haywoodemc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Haywood EMC is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative founded in 1938 that distributes electricity to approximately 29,545 member-owners across 8 counties in Western North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, operating 3,045 miles of power line and offering Community Solar, EV charging, and energy efficiency programs alongside core distribution service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Distribution

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Electric Distribution System Owners (Wires-Only Companies) (EUADABAI)

Keywords

• Electric distribution service
• Rural electric cooperative
• Community solar program
• Member-owned utility
• Electric vehicle charging

Headquarters

HQ city

Waynesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: Sale of electricity to residential and commercial member-owners on a usage-based (kWh) pricing model. The cooperative operates as a not-for-profit entity, returning margins to members through Capital Credits allocations and retirements rather than distributing profits to shareholders.
2. Capital Credits Retirements: Not-for-profit cooperative model where margins (revenues minus expenses) are allocated annually to members as Capital Credits based on their electricity usage, then retired (returned) to members over approximately 25 years
3. Community Solar Subscriptions: Monthly subscription fees ($1.79 per panel) for the Community Solar Program where members receive energy credits for kWh generated by cooperative-owned solar arrays
4. Connection and Service Fees: One-time fees including connection fees, temporary service fees, security deposits, and service charges for new installations and reconnections
5. Security Lighting: Monthly fees for security lights installed on member properties (e.g., decorative or wood poles at $150)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Haywood EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative that distributes electricity to over 29,200 member-owners across Western North Carolina and portions of Georgia and South Carolina. The cooperative operates approximately 3,045 miles of power lines serving 29,545 meters in 8 counties. Core services include electric distribution, member account management via the SmartHub portal, outage management, community solar subscriptions, EV fast charging, and energy efficiency programs.

Product overview

Haywood EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative providing electricity distribution as its core product. The cooperative serves over 29,200 member-owners across Western North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina through approximately 3,045 miles of power lines. The product portfolio centers on the SmartHub member portal for account management and bill payment, supplemented by the Community Solar Program (launched 2024) for subscription-based solar energy access, public EV fast charging stations, outage management tools, and energy efficiency programs. Member benefits include Capital Credits (annual margin allocations returned to members) and community programs including Bright Ideas education grants. The cooperative also provides vegetation management services and various billing options including equal payment plans and automated bank drafts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Service Core electricity distribution service providing electric power to residential and commercial member-owners through approximately 3,045 miles of overhead power lines and substations across 8 counties in 3 states.
• SmartHub Member Portal Online and mobile platform allowing members to manage accounts, make payments, check energy usage, report outages, and communicate with the cooperative.
• Community Solar Program Opt-in subscription program allowing member-owners to purchase solar energy blocks from cooperative-owned arrays without installing panels at their location. Monthly fee of $1.79 per panel with energy credits at variable rates.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Charging Stations Public access EV fast charging stations installed and operated at Haywood EMC locations for member-owners and the general public.
• Outage Management & Reporting
• Energy Efficiency Programs
• Capital Credits
• Vegetation Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 returned to member-owners annually through Capital Credits for 7 consecutive years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Duke EnergyminorOthersDuke Energy planned a power outage affecting Haywood EMC's Rosman Substation for equipment replacement. Duke Energy is the upstream utility providing power delivery to Haywood EMC's substation.
• North Carolina Electric CooperativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization of 26 electric cooperatives coordinating on policy advocacy, Bright Ideas education grants ($16 million+ awarded since 1994), Human Connections Fund, and cooperative programs. Haywood EMC participates in Hurricane Helene relief funding through this network.
• Touchstone EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational brand of electric cooperatives offering Touchstone Energy Scholarships to students in cooperative communities.
• NC GreenPowerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram offering renewable energy credits that Haywood EMC connects members to for supporting green energy
• Energy StarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHaywood EMC offers Energy Star Home Advisor program to help members improve home energy efficiency

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blue Ridge Energy: A member-owned electric cooperative serving Northwest North Carolina with similar scale (35,000+ members) and rural mountain-territory operations. Directly comparable as a neighboring NC EMC operating under the same statewide cooperative framework.
• Rutherford EMC: A North Carolina electric cooperative serving Rutherford and surrounding counties. Same Touchstone Energy branding, statewide cooperative network participation, and member-owned distribution model as Haywood EMC.
• EnergyUnited: A North Carolina electric cooperative serving approximately 125,000 members across multiple counties. Comparable cooperative model, member-owned governance, and rural distribution focus make it a relevant direct peer despite larger scale.
• French Broad Electric Membership Corporation: A neighboring electric cooperative serving Madison, Buncombe, and surrounding counties in Western NC. Closest geographic peer to Haywood EMC with similar mountainous terrain, member-owned structure, and small-scale rural distribution profile.
• Surry-Yadkin EMC: A North Carolina electric cooperative serving Surry and Yadkin counties in northwestern NC. Directly comparable in size, structure, and rural member-owned distribution model within the same NC cooperative network.

Broad incumbents

• Duke Energy: The upstream wholesale power supplier to Haywood EMC via the Rosman Substation and a broader incumbent regulated utility operating across the Carolinas. Comparable as an electricity distribution utility serving overlapping North Carolina geography.

Others

• Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: The national cooperative network and brand of which Haywood EMC is a member affiliate. Provides shared marketing, scholarships, and cooperative identity, making it a strategic ecosystem peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/haywoodemc
• Facebookfacebook.com/haywoodemc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/haywood-electric-membership

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Haywood Emc