Duke Energy rate-increase hearing postponed over security concerns
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- NC Public Utilities Commission postponed Duke Energy rate hearing over security concerns.
- Duke seeks roughly an 18% residential rate increase, raising many bills $20–$30 monthly.
- Duke requested recovery of $800 million that would add $6.90–$7.88 to monthly bills.
The NC Public Utilities Commission has postponed a hearing over Duke Energy’s proposed rate hikes over security concerns in the Durham County courthouse.
In court filings last week, the commission cited unspecified security issues that will require additional security, forcing the hearing scheduled for Tuesday to get pushed back to June 3.
Duke Energy Carolinas is asking the commission to approve a roughly 18% residential rate increase, which would trigger an increase of about $20 to $30 per month for many households, according to testimony presented at a Charlotte hearing.
A broader rate request for all Duke customers translates to roughly 15% to 16% phased in over several years, with a first-year increase that would take effect no later than Jan. 1 if approved, and a second increase in 2028.
Duke has also asked regulators to let it recover about $800 million in fuel and power costs from this past winter — $500 million for Duke Energy Carolinas and $309 million for Duke Energy Progress. That charge would add about $6.90 to $7.88 to monthly residential bills, beginning as soon as June 1 and lasting roughly 19 months.
Last week, peaceful protesters blocked the entrance to the NC Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh, citing Duke’s adverse impact on climate change and rising costs to consumers who must finance it. No arrests were made during the roughly four-hour demonstration.
Neither the Utilities Commission nor the Durham County Sheriff’s Office have responded to questions about the security risk.