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Customers to pay higher Duke Energy bills due to coal ash cleanup

By Liz Foster
By Liz Foster

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy officials plan to request a rate hike that will affect the power bills of nearly two million customers in the Charlotte area.

Duke Energy Carolinas officials confirmed Tuesday that they plan to ask North Carolina’s Utilities Commission for permission to raise rates on or around August 25 for their customers in the eastern and western parts of the state.

Officials haven't said how much more customers could pay, but they are already pushing for a 15 percent rate increase for Duke Energy Progress customers in the central and eastern part of the state.

Coal Ash Coverage: 

The reasons for both rate increases are the same.

Officials with the utility giant said it's part of an effort to modernize the state’s electric system, generate cleaner power and costs associated with the ongoing management of the coal ash and the safe closure of ash basins.

“Should customers have to pay for Duke Energy’s coal ash issues?” anchor Liz Foster asked.

“Well, customers are not paying at all for the incident that happened in Dan River,” Duke Energy spokesman Tim Pettit said. “What customers are paying for is the safe closure of our ash basins, which are a result of these coal-fired plants that have been serving our customers for decades.”

If the proposed rate increase is around 15 percent, it would cost the average customer about $18 more a month.

There will be public hearings before the Utilities Commission makes a final decision.

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