Looking at a Duke Energy power bill, you wouldn’t see any mention of fuel prices. The extra charges get lumped in with a nonspecific line item. This vague language has caused a lot of confusion among customers who want to know why their electric bill can increase even when their usage goes down.
Whatley’s lobbyist background is drawing increased scrutiny as energy costs rise across the state. Advocates argue that decisions made in Washington and in the state legislature have consistently favored corporate utilities over consumers, leaving North Carolinians to shoulder the burden.
Duke Energy Carolinas kept $21.70 of every $100 paid by North Carolinians in 2024 as pure profit. That’s higher than normal for energy companies and much higher than other industries.
The grants include $24 million for mitigation projects and $16 million for volunteer rebuilding efforts, in order to help the region with long-term recovery efforts and help communities there better withstand future natural disasters.
North Carolina is one of only two southeastern states with a fully running Home Efficiency Rebate program. Energy Saver NC supports residents who want to electrify their homes and use that electricity more efficiently, offering up to $16,000 toward new appliances, better insulation, or other purchases that help a home use electricity more efficiently.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein’s Energy Policy Task Force released its interim report last month, with a set of nine recommendations for ensuring that North Carolinians have affordable, reliable, and clean energy supplies as demand for energy skyrockets in the state.
Energy Saver NC, which has $208 million of funding through 2031, provides two types of rebates to eligible households.
With utilities giant Duke Energy demanding yet another rate hike despite making billions in profits, it’s worth noting that there are other electricity providers in North Carolina. In fact, there are 26 not-for-profit electric cooperatives providing electricity to 2.8 million North Carolinians across 93 counties in the state.
“Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike is simply too high and comes as the company is also retreating on more affordable clean energy. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable, not less. I will continue to fight on behalf of every North Carolinian to lower costs and grow the economy,” said Stein.
North Carolina Democrats on the state and federal levels are pushing a range of grants, initiatives, and legislation to support the state’s ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.