North Carolinians in search of relief from rising costs suffered another setback this week, this time at the hands of the Republican-appointed NC Utilities Commission, which approved a 40% rate hike requested by Carolina Water Service.
The rate hike faced strong opposition from North Carolinians, who attended hearings, signed petitions, and delivered public testimony urging regulators to reject the increases altogether. Many customers argued they already pay substantially more than surrounding areas and said further increases would strain household budgets during a period when the cost of gas, groceries, healthcare, and housing are all rising.
The NC Utilities Commission approved the increases anyway, allowing a rate that was even higher than what the utility company originally proposed.
Carolina Water serves over 37,000 water customers and over 22,000 sewer customers across 39 North Carolina counties. Opposition to the rate hikes extended across each of those communities, with residents speaking out at public hearings held in cities like Charlotte, New Bern, and Raleigh, among others.
“We’re extremely disappointed, although not surprised,” said Terry Bravas, a Lake Norman-area resident. “This decision is a complete abdication of the utility commission’s responsibility and, in my judgment, a demonstration of a lack of integrity by the commissioners and the public staff.”
The commission’s order states that regulators reviewed testimony, exhibits, and public comments before concluding the rates were reasonable and in the public interest.
“I never thought that I would live in a state where water was going to be unaffordable to so many people,” said Paul Dascoli, a Mooresville resident. “People are going to have to make choices now, everyday choices about where they spend their money, just so they can afford water, which is a basic human need.”
The 40% hike will be phased in over three years. Carolina Water attributed the rate hike to infrastructure upgrades, forever chemical cleanup efforts, and Hurricane Helene recovery costs. State regulators also approved allowing the company to pass $700,000 in storm-related expenses directly to customers. Rate changes will vary by service territory, and customers will receive notices explaining how the approved rates will affect their bills.
The rate hike by Carolina Water comes on the heels of a rate hike request from another utility company– Duke Energy. Duke requested to raise consumer rates by 18%, a steep increase that North Carolinians have been pushing back against.
Bravas said the Carolina Water case highlights a broader problem for customers served by private, investor-owned utilities. “It’s a monopoly, and they can do whatever they want, and the commission is allowing that.”
