Duke Energy Carolinas is looking at increasing rates by 6.7 percent for residential customers and 5 percent for commercial/industrial customers, according to a filing the company made with the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
The increased fees will help pay for a shift to clean energy projects in the region.
“Duke Energy is committed to a smarter, cleaner energy future for North Carolina,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president, in a press release. “We have significantly reduced our carbon footprint and have proposed additional steps to further transition to cleaner energy sources. We are also modernizing the electric grid to improve reliability, help avoid power outages and speed restoration when outages do occur.”
Overall, the company is looking to raise an additional $291 million through the rate increases.
De May said the company wants to replace aging coal-fired plants it is using with carbon-free renewable energy and natural gas plants. The increase would also help safely manage and close coal-ash ponds throughout the utility’s generation system.
The company also is looking for ways to improve reliability for customers while building a modern “smart grid.”
