- (910) 353-1940
- joemc@joemc.com
- M-F 8 AM to 5 PM
At Jones-Onslow EMC, we understand that changes to your electric bill matter. Electricity powers your everyday life, and we take our responsibility to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service seriously. That’s why we want to share important information about an upcoming electric rate adjustment that will take effect on April 1, 2026.
This decision didn’t come lightly. JOEMC has not increased its kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate in more than 10 years. Since 2013, we’ve worked diligently to absorb rising costs internally to keep your rates stable. However, since 2020, the cost of providing electricity has increased significantly across the entire electric industry—and those costs continue to rise. Like many of the goods and services you purchase, the prices we pay for equipment, materials, and power have gone up drastically in recent years, and we’ve reached a point where an adjustment is necessary to continue delivering the reliable service you depend on.
Understanding how your payment is used helps explain why this adjustment is necessary. Every dollar you pay helps keep power flowing to your home:
67 cents goes toward the cost of power we purchase on behalf of our members—a cost we don’t control but must pass through.
33 cents supports everything else required to deliver electricity safely and reliably, including system maintenance, equipment, vegetation management, storm response, cybersecurity, facility upgrades, and community programs.
Several industry-wide factors are driving higher electric costs:
As a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative, JOEMC doesn’t generate electricity. Instead, we purchase power through North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) and deliver it safely and reliably to your home or business.
NCEMC buys electricity in bulk on behalf of electric cooperatives across the state, working to secure the most stable and cost-effective supply possible. However, like power suppliers nationwide, NCEMC is
facing higher costs driven by rising fuel prices, increased demand, and critical investments in infrastructure and grid reliability.
These industry-wide increases affect the entire electric system. This year alone, JOEMC’s wholesale power costs are expected to rise by approximately $7 million.
For years, we’ve absorbed these rising expenses to keep your rates as stable as possible. However, we’ve reached a point where a rate adjustment is necessary to continue delivering the safe, reliable service you depend on.
Thank you for allowing us to serve you. We welcome your questions and are here to help you understand how this adjustment may affect your account. As a member-owned cooperative, we’re in this together—working to keep power reliable for our community today and in the future.
Please use the calculator below to estimate your monthly electric bill. This estimate includes the $35.00 monthly basic charge, which covers the cost of maintaining poles, wires, meters, and system infrastructure to deliver reliable service. Applicable taxes are not included in the total.
