Attorney General Jeff Jackson Won’t Sign Second Duke Energy Settlement That Will Cost Families 6.8% in Rate Hikes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809

RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson will not sign the proposed settlement in the Duke Energy Progress rate case, which would raise residential electric bills about 6.8% over the next two years. Duke Energy Progress serves the eastern half of North Carolina and the Asheville area.

Duke’s original filing asked for an 18.1% increase on residential rates over two years. Last week, Duke announced a settlement with the North Carolina Public Staff and others. In testimony in front of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Kendal Bowman, North Carolina President for Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas, testified that residential rate increase will now be 6.8% over two years.

“Duke brought down their rate increase to 6.8%, but that’s still too high for families and still more than the company needs to cover its investments,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “We’re not signing it.”

Duke also made concessions on other parts of its rate filing. Duke Energy Progress has agreed to join Duke Energy Carolinas’ separate fast-track process to establish new rules for data centers and other large energy users. Attorney General Jackson has argued for a new, separate rate class for these large energy users, given the strain they put on the system. He will continue to advocate in this new process for rules focused on protecting ratepayers. Duke also agreed to have its shareholders contribute $10 million in funds to help customers pay their bills and weatherize their homes to lower energy costs.

Attorney General Jackson has been fighting to protect ratepayers from paying higher energy bills. He declined to sign on the proposed settlement in the Duke Energy Carolinas rate case in July because residential rates would still rise about 9.5%.  Duke Energy Carolinas provides energy to most of central and western North Carolina.

Separately from the Duke Energy Progress rate case, Attorney General Jackson is also asking Duke to formalize commitments it made as part of the federal Ratepayer Protection Pledge and make them legally binding in front of the Utilities Commission. As part of the pledge, Duke committed to working with large energy users to establish a separate rate class and allow them to generate their own power and pay for the power and infrastructure they ask for.

The Utilities Commission will decide whether to approve or reject the proposed settlement. If approved as filed, new rates would begin taking effect on January 1, 2027.