Duke files for rate increase

Duke Energy Carolinas filed yesterday with the South Carolina Public Service Commission a request to raise electric rates by about $220 million—an overall increase of 15.1%. However, the average rate increase applying to Duke’s residential customers would exceed 16%. Duke gave this example of how a residential customer would be affected: “Today, a residential customer who uses 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month pays $100.45. If the company’s rate increase is approved as filed, that bill increases by $17.83.” The company said more than half of the request is driven by capital investments in the electric systems. One investment is at Oconee Nuclear Station, where $141 million is being spent for new safety and security measures to protect the plant from extreme conditions or a natural disaster.