French Broad EMC members: solar and backup power that fit the mountains
French Broad EMC is a member-owned co-op based in Marshall, and members can connect home solar under its Sell Excess program. Helene showed how long mountain lines can take to rebuild. Here is what to know before you buy panels or a battery.
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A co-op owned by its members
French Broad Electric Membership Corporation is a not-for-profit cooperative headquartered in Marshall. In North Carolina it serves members in Madison, Yancey, Mitchell and Buncombe counties, plus Unicoi and Cocke counties in Tennessee. A board of directors elected by the membership sets policy, and the board approved changes to the co-op's rate book effective October 1, 2025.
The bill includes a monthly Basic Facilities Charge, a per-kWh charge, and a Purchase Power Fuel Charge that covers the fuel cost of the Duke Energy generation the co-op buys. That fuel line changes month to month, and it is the part members have the least say over.
How French Broad EMC handles solar
French Broad EMC does not call its program net metering. It offers two ways to connect a home system:
- Sell Excess. Your home uses your solar first. A special meter tracks what you pull from the grid and what you send back, and exported energy earns a bill credit based on the co-op's current avoided-cost rate.
- Residential Generation. A separate rate with its own monthly basic facilities charge and a per-kWh generation credit.
Both carry a one-time interconnection fee. Because exports are credited at the avoided-cost rate, most of the value of solar here comes from the power you use yourself. A system sized to your daytime use, or paired with a battery that saves midday output for the evening, is usually the better fit.
Steps to connect
The co-op asks members to talk with its energy services staff first, then complete a distributed generation application and interconnection agreement. The system must pass inspection before it is connected. French Broad EMC has also told members it is not associated with any solar company and does not sell solar door to door, so be careful with anyone who claims otherwise.
Outages and backup
Helene hit this territory hard. About half of the co-op's members were without power by daybreak on September 27, 2024, and most of its roughly 4,000 miles of line were damaged. Two days later the co-op warned that full restoration would take weeks. Crews worked through washed-out roads and steep coves, and long rural lines will always be slow to rebuild after a storm like that.
That is why many members here ask about a battery or a standby generator that can run a well pump, a freezer and heat. Winter ice on the ridges brings outages too.
The fastest way to a real answer
Getting a contractor out to a hollow in Madison or Yancey County for a quote can take weeks. On HomeBackupPros you can book a home energy evaluation for $349. It covers an electric audit, a review of your actual usage and a written quote for a system. If you buy the system from that same contractor, the $349 is credited toward the price. Contractors can also offer a free site visit or send an estimate instead, and you choose.
Every contractor is reviewed and approved by our team before they can respond, and we check their NC electrical contractor license number. They are independent businesses. HomeBackupPros does not install anything and is not affiliated with French Broad EMC.
Where French Broad EMC serves in our area
- Madison County
- Yancey County
- Mitchell County
- Buncombe County
Questions
Does French Broad EMC offer net metering?
Not under that name. Members can connect under the Sell Excess program, where the home uses solar first and exported energy earns a bill credit based on the co-op's avoided-cost rate. There is also a Residential Generation rate with its own monthly basic facilities charge. Both carry a one-time interconnection fee.
What paperwork does French Broad EMC require for solar?
The co-op asks members to complete a distributed generation application and an interconnection agreement, and the system must pass inspection before it is connected. It also suggests talking with its energy services staff first. Your contractor should handle the forms, but confirm they are using the current versions.
Does French Broad EMC work with a solar company?
No. French Broad EMC has said it is not associated with any solar company and will not knock on doors to sell solar. If a salesperson claims a partnership with the co-op, check with the co-op before signing anything.
How long did Helene outages last on French Broad EMC lines?
About half of the membership was out by daybreak on September 27, 2024, and most of the co-op's roughly 4,000 miles of line were damaged. The co-op warned that some members would wait weeks for power. That experience is why backup is the first question for many members now.