Sierra Club’s settlement with Duke Energy is a win for low-income customers

RALEIGH, N.C. —  The Sierra Club has reached a settlement with Duke Energy that resolves  all low-income affordability issues in rate cases filed by Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas.

As part of this settlement, DEP and DEC have agreed to make shareholder financial contributions totalling $16 million over three years to ease the burden on customers. This money will go toward the utility’s “Share the Light” fund to help people struggling to pay their energy bills, and also pay for “health and safety repairs to address issues that currently prevent low-income residences from qualifying for weatherization or other energy efficiency improvement.” In North Carolina, about 30% of households struggle to pay their energy bills.

Duke agreed that these contributions will not affect customers’ rates.

In response, Mikaela Curry, senior representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in the the Carolinas, issued the following statement:

“We hope this settlement will bring some relief to families who are already struggling to make ends meet. Low-income households often struggle to pay their electricity bills, and sometimes have to make impossible choices between keeping their lights on, paying for medicine, or feeding their families. We’re especially glad that this agreement will not only help people pay their utility bills, but will help with improvements and upgrades to make their homes more efficient, and ease their burden from the start.”