Duke Energy Carolinas Seeks Rate Hike During Pandemic As Utility Shut Offs Resume

CHARLOTTE -- On Friday evening, Duke Energy Carolinas filed a notice of intent to temporarily raise rates after state regulators denied the utility a request to defer potential losses due to the pandemic. 

Duke intends to offset the rate hike by accelerating refunds of excess taxes to customers, but cannot guarantee that ratepayers will not see bigger bills as the summer progresses. Tomorrow, Duke can resume utility disconnections for delinquent accounts. 

In response to this development, Will Harlan, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, made the following statement: 

“Duke wants to raise rates in the middle of the summer, in the middle of a pandemic, and at the same time the federal government is debating how much emergency financial support for working families they can cut. Over 1 million North Carolinians have been unable to pay utility bills and many fear having their service cut off. Duke, however, is concerned about not losing $80 million out of approximately $22 billion in annual revenue. 

“The excess taxes Duke intends to refund to North and South Carolinians should be refunded immediately and without any strings attached. Utility disconnections should be delayed until after the summer and only if the public health crisis is under control.

“Ultimately, the best way for Duke to save money for ratepayers and shareholders is to close their dirty, expensive coal plants—not increase rates and shut off electricity to people when they need it most.”