Greenville, SC (Greenville News) - Duke Energy residential customers could be paying about 12 percent more for power next year if a new proposal is approved.
What to know
- Duke Energy Carolinas announced a 12 percent cost increase for residential customers
- A residential customer using 1,000 killowatt-hours of electricity can expect a $15.57 increase in their bill starting June 1, 2019
Duke Energy Carolinas is proposing a rate increase as it looks to modernize its power plants and generate cleaner energy, according to a statement. A customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month at home can expect an energy bill of about $129.43 per month, according to the statement. That's an increase of $15.57 from current costs beginning June 1, 2019.
According to an application submitted to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, Duke has requested options to spread cost increases over several years.
The Public Service Commission is currently accepting public comments regarding the proposal. They can be mailed to 101 Executive Center Drive #100, Columbia, SC 29210 or emailed to contact@psc.sc.gov. A ruling is expected by next spring.
Commercial rates would increase 7.7 percent on average and industrial rates would increase 8.8 percent on average. Duke Energy Progress is also requesting a similar rate hike.
The increase would affect 591,000 customers in the Upstate and increase Duke revenues by about $168 million. In 2017 Duke Energy Carolinas revenues were approximately $7 billion, according to Duke's application with the Public Utilities Commission.
The last time Duke Energy Carolinas changed its rates was in 2013.
Duke Energy Carolina customers have the lowest average bills in South Carolina compared to Duke Energy Progress and SCE&G customers. Overall, South Carolina has the highest monthly electricity costs on average, according to a study by WalletHub.
