Millions of Duke Energy customers in North Carolina face higher electric rates from January 1, 2027, if state regulators approve two pending settlements, and about 80,000 low-income households are also set to lose a $42 monthly bill credit when a pilot program ends on December 31.

Key takeaways

• Proposed settlements would raise residential rates by about 9.5% over two years for Duke Energy Carolinas and about 6.8% for Duke Energy Progress, starting January 1, 2027.
• A typical Duke Energy Carolinas household using 1,000 kWh a month would pay about $9.39 more per month in 2027 and a further $5.52 in 2028.
• Duke’s Customer Assistance Program, which gives income-eligible customers a $42 monthly credit, is scheduled to end December 31 unless the North Carolina Utilities Commission orders otherwise.

What happened

Duke Energy runs two regulated utilities in North Carolina: Duke Energy Carolinas, which serves Charlotte, the Triad and much of the western and central parts of the state, and Duke Energy Progress, which serves the Raleigh area and eastern North Carolina. Both filed rate cases asking for residential increases of roughly 18% over two years, citing grid upgrades, reliability and growing electricity demand.

After objections, Duke reached settlements with the state’s Public Staff (the consumer-side agency that reviews rate cases) and other parties. The Duke Energy Carolinas deal, announced in July, would raise residential rates by about 9.5% over two years and lower the company’s allowed return on equity from the 10.95% it requested to 9.8%. The Duke Energy Progress deal, announced in August, would lift residential rates by about 6.8%. Each settlement includes $10 million in shareholder money for bill assistance and weatherization.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson declined to sign either agreement, calling the Duke Energy Progress increase “still too high for families.” The Utilities Commission, which has not yet ruled, can approve, reject or modify the settlements. As WRAL reported on October 22, the pending decision now overlaps with the scheduled end of Duke’s Customer Assistance Program, a three-year pilot funded through customer charges. About 45,000 Duke Energy Carolinas customers and 35,000 Duke Energy Progress customers are enrolled. Many were enrolled automatically because they already receive state energy assistance, and some do not know they get the credit, which appears deep in the bill among other line items.

What it means for your bill

For a typical Duke Energy Carolinas residential customer using 1,000 kWh a month, figures reported by WBTV show how the settlement would play out:

• Today: about $156.81 a month.
• January 2027: about $166.20, an increase of $9.39 a month, or $9.39 × 12 = about $113 a year.
• January 2028: about $166.20 + $5.52 = $171.72, or $14.91 a month more than today (about $179 a year).

Duke Energy Progress customers would see a similar pattern: about $9.62 more a month in 2027 and roughly $5.89 more in 2028 for 1,000 kWh, according to figures reported from WRAL.

The bigger jump falls on households losing the assistance credit. Take a Duke Energy Carolinas customer enrolled in the program who uses 1,000 kWh:

• Today: $156.81 − $42 credit = about $114.81 a month.
• January 2027 (settlement approved, no credit): about $166.20 a month.
• Difference: $166.20 − $114.81 = about $51.39 more a month, an increase of roughly 45%, or more than $600 a year.

These are estimates for a 1,000 kWh month. Homes with electric heating often use much more in January and February, so actual bills, and the dollar increase, can be higher. Rates will not change until the commission issues an order, and the final numbers may differ from the settlements.

What you can do

• Check page three of your bill. If you see a Customer Assistance Program credit, plan for it to disappear after December unless regulators extend it, and set aside the difference now if you can.
• Apply for other help early. North Carolina’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program and Crisis Intervention Program are handled through county social services offices, and Duke’s online payment-assistance tool lists local agencies by ZIP code. Funds can run out, so earlier is better.
• Smooth out winter spikes. A level payment plan spreads costs across the year; see our guide to budget billing pros and cons before signing up.
• Cut heating use. Sealing drafts, adding insulation and lowering the thermostat a few degrees at night are among the cheapest fixes. Our list of ways to save on heating this winter has more.

Sources

• WRAL: Higher power bills loom this winter, even for households using less (Oct. 22, 2026)
• N.C. Department of Justice: Duke Energy Carolinas settlement (July 21, 2026)
• N.C. Department of Justice: Duke Energy Progress settlement (Aug. 12, 2026)
• WBTV: Duke Energy Carolinas bills could rise nearly $10 per month in 2027
• WUNC: Vulnerable Duke Energy customers set to lose monthly bill credit
• The Money Overview: Duke Energy Progress bill impact

Written by The Daily Economy editorial team with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Read our editorial policy.