Duke Energy is attempting to raise our energy rates by 17.7%. That’s a minimum of $25 more per month; by 2026, the average annual residential electric bill would be $306.06 higher than it is today.
The increase would disproportionately impact low-income ratepayers, requiring them to spend more of their income on electricity than those with higher incomes—a cruel injustice to those who have no choice but to use Duke as their utility. Someone making minimum wage would have to work an additional 2.5 weeks to cover the added costs to their energy bills.
Low-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities often already have a higher energy burden, and this rate hike is only going to worsen their financial strain. The NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) is responsible for protecting the most vulnerable communities in North Carolina from a corporate money grab.
Duke claims the rate hike is necessary to cover costs for projects such as new transmission lines and improvements on “clean energy.” But the truth is, Duke is looking to increase its investments in fracked gas, an outdated energy source that is less reliable (and quickly growing more expensive) than clean energy. Duke has been accused of manipulating the data in its Carbon Plan to overinflate the cost of solar and wind energy and underinflate the cost of natural gas.
We need more renewable energy paired with battery storage to decrease our energy bills and transition us to a clean, safe, renewable energy future. Not more bad investments in soon-to-be obsolete dirty energy sources.
The NC Utilities Commission is holding a series of public hearings across the state to seek public feedback on Duke Energy’s plan to raise energy bills. The NCUC is asking community members to give testimony through written comments and in-person hearings across the state.
We encourage you to share how a rate increase would impact your life or budget, and how it could affect the lives of other community members. These talking points can be used to help inform your comments; however, you do not need to be an expert to weigh in. We encourage you to make your comments your own.
It’s important that the NC Utilities Commission hears from North Carolina residents. Sign up to attend a public hearing nearest your community!
Monday, March 13th at 7pm
Person County Courthouse
105 S Main St, Roxboro, NC
Sign Up >>
Tuesday, March 14th at 7pm
Dobbs Building
430 N Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC
Sign Up >>
Monday, March 20th at 7pm
Greene County Courthouse
301 N Greene St, Snowhill, NC
Sign Up >>
Tuesday, March 21st at 7pm
Robeson County Courthouse
500 N Elm St, Lumberton, NC
Sign Up >>
The NCUC has allowed Duke to run the show for too long. We demand the Commission dismiss these rate hikes and protect North Carolina households by regulating Duke Energy and decreasing our energy costs.
Looking for more ways to take action?
Sign the petition urging the NC Utilities Commission to reject Duke Energy’s three-year rate hike increase to fund dirty energy projects:
