Have your local congressional representative or even a state senator in NC get their office staff to send Duke Power an informative letter regarding the Rural Electrification Act of 1939. This piece of legislations covers just this situation. Where that power providers wouldn't run lines way out in the stix to serve one or two people.
Another option, a friend of ours in Alabama has a similar situation on a mountain east of Gadsden and the nearest feed was 8000 feet at the bottom, the POCO didn't want to run for even 3 houses. He finnaly research the Phone company's responsibility to provide phone service to anyone anywhere at a the same price. The phone company had to install all the poles and service line for the nominal service fee charged everyone. They have a local monopoly and can't refuse service due to the cost. After the phone company put the poles up the POCO didn't mind using their pole to send HV OH feeder to the houses on top. He had to do his homework to get it done but he didn't pay anything but the connect fee.
I think some research may save the $65,000 tag here, I don't think the POCO is living up to the letter of their agreement to have exclusive power rights. Is it a public utility or a private membership company. They have different agreements to live by.
Post back what utility you're dealing with and maybe a friend can help over there.
