The Sierra Club, a grassroots environmental organization that advocates for conservation and wilderness protection, hosted a rally in Charlotte focused on Duke Energy’s rate hike requests. The rally was preceded by a North Carolina Utilities Commission hearing for the hikes at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. Community members and environmental advocates rallied together to take a stand against the 18% rate hike and the economic and environmental consequences.
Since 2020, Duke Energy has already raised rates by 22%, and this year, the company is requesting an 18% rate hike by 2028. The request means that utility bills will increase by $23-30 or higher in consumer households, if approved by the NC Utilities Commission.
The criticism doesn’t just come from the skyrocketing electricity costs, but also from the fact that Duke Energy’s CEO made over $13.6 million dollars last year. Moreover, the company saw nearly $5 billion in profits last year and uses unsustainable energy sources that only benefit them, not consumers and the environment.
“Duke Energy’s CEO is shamelessly making millions, while North Carolinians are faced with impossible choices between paying the power bill or putting food on the table, Harry Sideris should prioritize affordable, clean energy that will keep the lights on and our bills down instead of padding his own pockets,” said Luis Martinez, southeast director for climate and energy with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
There is an affordability crisis in North Carolina, and Duke Energy is making it worse. North Carolinians should not have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their high utility bill due to rate hikes.
“Families across District 99 and across North Carolina are already managing rising costs for housing, groceries, transportation,” testified Veleria Levy, representative-elect for NC House District 99 in Charlotte. “Adding another recurring expense at this level will force real trade‑offs for many households, including my own.”
There is still time to voice your concerns about the hikes, attend a public hearing, and continue discussing the impact that Duke Energy rate hikes have on your community.
Below are the upcoming hearings this month:
- Winston-Salem: May 6 @ 7:00 pm Forsyth County Courthouse
- Durham: May 12 @ 7:00 pm Durham County Courthouse
Duke Energy customers can also submit comments online through the Commission’s website using the appropriate docket numbers:
- E-2 Sub 1358 for Duke Energy Progress customers
- E-7 Sub 1313 for Duke Energy Carolinas customer
