Many North Carolinians are already faced with hard decisions about whether to pay their utility bill or buy food, housing or other necessities. These neighbors simply can't tolerate the rate hike Duke Energy Progress is proposing - a nearly 20% increase in the average customer's monthly bill.
Duke Energy Progress (DEP) is proposing rate changes that will result in an increase of $306.06 in the average annual bill for a residential customer by 2026.
DEP continues to waste money on expensive and dirty coal- and gas-powered plants that break down when demand is high, as happened last December. Nonetheless, Duke is still the parent company with the most planned gas of any in the country. That means future gas price increases will be passed directly to North Carolina customers.
There are lots of problems with the proposed rate increase; for one, it doesn't account for cost-saving opportunities available through federal funding, such as through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
DEP must not inflate the costs of the transition to cleaner energy to benefit their shareholders at the expense of North Carolinians. The N.C. Utilities Commission, which will decide whether to allow the increases, should require that DEP tie its revenue to minimizing rate increases, meeting energy efficiency goals, and using renewable energy sources.
Make your voice heard! If you are a Duke Energy Progress customer, you can attend one of these upcoming hearings hosted by the N.C. Utilities Commission - they start tonight! Each is scheduled for 7 p.m.:
- Monday, March 13, Roxboro: Person County Courthouse, 105 S. Main St., Superior Courtroom
- Tuesday, March 14, Raleigh: Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St.
- Monday, March 20, Snow Hill: Greene County Courthouse, 301 N. Green St., Courtroom 1
- Tuesday, March 21, Lumberton: Robeson County Courthouse, 500 N. Elm St., Courtroom B
Introduce yourself as a North Carolinian and a DEP customer. Share your story about how the rate increase would affect you personally. Download a PDF of our talking points to help frame your remarks.
And if you can't attend a hearing, you can file a written statement online - be sure to refer to Docket Number E-2 Sub 1300.
Thanks for standing up for fair rates for North Carolina utility customers!
