Duke Energy approves 4.5% rate increase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Tuesday night, Eyewitness News learned that state regulators approved a 4.5 percent rate increase for Duke Energy.

Duke Energy customers on Tuesday night said a $100 and more is simply too much to pay for their monthly power bill, but Eyewitness News learned that customers all across North Carolina can soon expect to pay even more.

On Tuesday night, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved a $200 million increased to Duke Energy Rates.

Starting this month, the power bills will increase by 4.5 percent, but after two years it will go up 5.1 percent.

That means, the current average bill of $102 a month will go up to $110.

Residents Eyewitness News spoke with said that is simply more than they can afford.

"I mean that's a lot I understand they want to kind of keep things going, upgraded, but it seems like a lot to push on to us," said one Charlotte resident.

"There's no way I'm going to be able to afford that with car payments and everything else," said another Charlotte resident.

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