Duke Energy has asked state regulators to approve an average 12.3% rate increase for its division serving eastern North Carolina and the Asheville area.
The filing Wednesday with the North Carolina Utilities Commission seeks an additional $464 million to pay for retiring coal plants, closing coal ash dumps, and improving the electric grid.
Duke says residential rates would rise an average 14.3%, if approved by regulators. A typical customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity monthly would pay about $17 more, or a total of about $138. The average increase would be 10.4% for commercial and industrial customers. Duke says it's request is about 3.2% lower because of savings from federal and state tax reforms.
This request follows a similar ask for a 6% rate increase in the western part of the state.
