Duke Energy wants state regulators to approve an 18% residential rate increase over two years in North Carolina, a change that could add about $34 a month for the average household by 2028. The request landed at a moment when customers have already seen electric bills rise about 22% since 2020. At a public hearing Monday in Raleigh, residents pushed back on both the size of the increase and Duke's handling of billing.
- The case is now before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which heard in-person comments March 30 at the Dobbs Building in Raleigh. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for April 1 at 6:30 p.m.
- More than 71,000 people had signed a petition by Monday calling for an independent audit of Duke's billing practices and customer refunds.
- Duke says the higher rates are needed to pay for a larger and more resilient electric system as North Carolina adds residents and faces stronger demands on the grid.
- For Durham households already juggling high housing and utility costs, the case matters because state-approved rate increases hit every monthly bill, not just customers who use more power.
The Utilities Commission will decide whether Duke's request is just and reasonable after the public comment period and the larger rate case move forward. For Durham customers, the next public deadline is the April 1 virtual hearing, before regulators decide whether another jump in power bills goes through.