Duke Energy is asking state regulators for a 15.7% rate increase over three years for central and western North Carolina, including Charlotte.
Duke says the rate hikes would raise an additional $823 million to upgrade the electric grid, improve reliability during storms and prepare for more renewable energy and electric vehicles.
The Duke Energy Carolinas request affects customers from Durham to Greensboro to Charlotte and the western part of the state.
If approved, rates would rise 9.5% overall next Jan. 1, 3.3% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026. The increases would be slightly higher for residential customers — 10.5% in 2024, 3.8% in 2025 and 3.6% in 2026, or 17.9% over three years. A typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would wind up paying $19.97 a month more in the third year. Duke says that would still be below the current national average electric bill.
“Our customers expect us to deliver reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy every day,” Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, said in a press release. “We’re very mindful of the financial pressures our customers face. Our rates are well below the national average, and we remain committed to keeping rates as low as possible.”
These are the only rate increases on the way from Duke. The request includes some, but not all the increases proposed in Duke's long-range plan for reducing power plant emissions, known as the carbon plan. A spokesman said this request includes $200 million for new transmission lines and facilities in areas with a high density of solar farms. The company has said the carbon plan could raise bills as much as 35% over 10 years.
Duke also has requested a 16% rate hike for eastern North Carolina and the Asheville area, served by Duke Energy Progress. The North Carolina Utilities Commission has scheduled hearings in March on that case. Hearings for Duke Energy Carolinas are expected this summer.
