Manufacturing costs in Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC-SC
Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC-SC ranks 15 of 100 U.S. metros by estimated manufacturing energy use. Industrial power in North Carolina costs 8.23 ¢/kWh, +5.5% from a year earlier, and consumer prices in the South, size B/C index are +3.7% from a year earlier.
- Rank by manufacturing energy use
- 15 of 100
- Estimated manufacturing energy use
- 93.3 trillion Btu a year
- Electricity
- 7,600 GWh a year (estimate)
- Natural gas
- 67.3 million Dth a year (estimate)
- Manufacturing jobs, 2024
- 108,963
- Estimate confidence
- Medium
- North Carolina industrial power, Aug 2026
- 8.23 ¢/kWh (+5.5% from a year earlier)
- North Carolina citygate gas, Mar to Aug 2026
- $4.96 per Mcf (6 months reported)
- Inflation, South, size B/C, Sep 2026
- +3.7% from a year earlier; +9.0% over three years
Inflation in South, size B/C
- South, size B/C
- U.S. city average
Industrial electricity in North Carolina
- North Carolina industrial
Other North Carolina metros in the index
- Greensboro–High Point, NC, rank 42
- Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton, NC, rank 73
- Raleigh–Cary, NC, rank 82
- Winston-Salem, NC, rank 95
National cost drivers
WTI crude +67.6%, Henry Hub gas −6.3%, chemical producer prices +6.6% and industrial electricity producer prices +4.1% from a year earlier. See the full index.
Questions
Questions about Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia.
What the index measures, where the numbers come from, and how Discovery Energy checks energy bills against them.
How much energy do manufacturers use in Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia?
Discovery Energy estimates that manufacturers in the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia, NC-SC metro use about 93.3 trillion Btu of electricity and natural gas a year, rank 15 of the 100 largest U.S. manufacturing energy metros.
What do manufacturers pay for electricity in Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia?
The average industrial electricity price in North Carolina was 8.23 cents per kWh in Aug 2026, +5.5% from a year earlier, according to EIA. Actual rates depend on the utility, tariff and load profile.
How fast are prices rising in Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia?
Consumer prices in the South, size B/C index rose +3.7% over the latest twelve months reported by BLS. Nationally, crude oil is +68% and chemical producer prices +6.6% from a year earlier.
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