CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Attorney General Josh Stein filed an appeal on Wednesday against Duke Energy Carolinas’ recently approved rate hikes.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission OK'd the new rates for Duke Energy customers in December. Stein argued the rates are too high and is now asking the North Carolina Supreme Court to weigh in.
The company's approved rate hike is spread out over the next three years. A company spokesperson previously told WCNC Charlotte the money is needed for power grid upgrades.
In its latest announcement, Duke Energy said a typical customer is paying about $10 more a month this year. Next year, monthly costs will go up again by $4, and in 2026, another $4 a month on top of that. That totals nearly a 15% increase in customers' monthly bills.
Attorney General Josh Stein said in his announcement of the appeal that, “every dollar matters for North Carolina families."
Andrew Whelan, a spokesperson for CleanAIRE NC echoed Stein's comments to WCNC Charlotte.
"Many North Carolina households are already struggling to make ends meet, and they just can't afford the higher rates," Whelan said.
Whelan added that CleanAIRE NC worries Duke Energy is using the money to fund its use of fossil fuels.
"Rather than investing in renewables, Duke wants to shift this burden onto working families who can't really afford higher energy bills," Whelan said.
A Duke Energy spokesperson issued the following statement to WCNC Charlotte:
“The Commission's decision was issued after extensive evaluation and public input. The order enables critical grid investments that are needed to advance North Carolina’s growing economy while protecting reliability and affordability for customers.”
Since the rates are already approved by the state, Duke Energy says the attorney general’s appeal does not affect current rates and they will stay in place unless the North Carolina Supreme Court rules otherwise.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.