NC environmentalists continue pushing back on Duke Energy rate hike

Last week, Duke Energy announced it had reached a settlement with the Utilities Commission’s Public Staff, a department that represents consumers in regulatory cases. They agreed to an average increase of 3.4% each year for the next two years for residential users. A standard residential customer consuming 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could see an increase of about $9.61 each month starting in 2027. 

The utility originally requested a rate increase of 18% over two years, but lowered its request to 9.5% over two years after months of backlash. 

“We greatly appreciate the diverse partnership represented in these agreements, from Public Staff to businesses and organizations who all came together with us to reach a more cost-effective path forward for our customers,” Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton told NC Newsline in an email.

Even though the settlement is well below the utility’s original request, environmental advocates say it’s still too much. 

Dan Crawford, senior director of public affairs at the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, pointed out Duke Energy shareholders made huge profits in 2025.

“Poor, poor Duke. They’re barely scraping by on $5 billion in profits they made last year, and last week, they announced they’re already on track to make even more this year,” Crawford said sarcastically. “Clearly, they need this increase.”

State leaders have taken action against the proposed rate increases. Last month, Attorney General Jeff Jackson said he wouldn’t support the settlement, believing the rates can still come down. Gov. Josh Stein criticized the increase as well. 

Crawford said he stands with Jackson in asking the Utilities Commission to deny Duke’s request. 

NC AG Jackson rejects Duke Energy’s proposed rate increase

“Cut Duke’s guaranteed profits. Stop raising our bills to pay for it,” Crawford said. “Stand up for the people of North Carolina.”

Prices for consumers have been rising across the board over the past year, according to Terryn Hall, state director for the left-leaning group Climate Power.

Since the Trump Administration passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last year, Hall says costs for North Carolina families have gone up by $2,032 per household through June 30 of this year, according to a recent study from Climate Power and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. 

“The reality is North Carolina families cannot afford these rising bills,” Hall said. “We say no to rate hikes. Our bills are just too high across the board.”

Wake County Democratic Rep. Maria Cervania described the rate increase request as “untenable.” 

She said residential customers shouldn’t be responsible for subsidizing the electricity costs for large and profitable corporations building hyperscale data centers. 

Lawmakers passed a budget this year repealing the sales tax exemption on electricity for data centers, but there’s still concern over other costs to upgrade the state’s power infrastructure to accommodate the growth in demand that large data centers will bring.

“We deserve a modern grid capable of supporting our growing economy, but we also deserve electricity that families can afford,” Cervania said.