Duke Energy reduced its proposed North Carolina rate increase by nearly half, though a typical 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential bill would still rise in 2027 and 2028.

The utility reduced its two-year request from 18 percent to 9.5 percent after public hearings and negotiations.

Duke Energy reduced its requested two-year rate increase from 18 percent to 9.5 percent after public hearings and negotiations.

For a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours monthly, the proposal would raise a $157.15 bill by $6.53 beginning January 1, 2027.

The same example bill would increase by another $4.66 beginning January 1, 2028.

Duke said the additional revenue would fund infrastructure upgrades and meet growing electricity demand.

A company spokesperson said Duke added about 150,000 North Carolina customers in two years, requiring about 50,000 poles and 4,000 miles of lines.

The revised request remained under review by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and had not become an approved customer rate.

Public hearings documented customer concerns about bills rising faster than household budgets.

The commission evaluates the utility's evidence, capital needs and proposed recovery from different customer classes.

Monthly effects vary with consumption, rate design, taxes and other line items, so the 1,000-kilowatt-hour example is not every household's final bill.

The evidence supports a bounded conclusion: Duke Energy reduced its proposed North Carolina rate increase by nearly half, though a typical 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential bill would still rise in 2027 and 2028. It does not resolve the remaining uncertainty because The commission's final order could approve, reject or modify the settlement terms and timing. The factual horizon is therefore defined by The Utilities Commission's final rate order and Any changes to customer-class allocation or bill-assistance programs.

The current reporting limit is specific: The commission's final order could approve, reject or modify the settlement terms and timing.

The next verifiable developments are The Utilities Commission's final rate order and Any changes to customer-class allocation or bill-assistance programs.