Duke Energy Rate Hearings Are Happening: Here’s How Nash County Residents Can Participate

Many residents in Nash County have been asking why their electricity bills keep increasing and whether they have a chance to speak up about it.

After looking into the current rate case involving Duke Energy Progress, here’s what residents should know.

The decision about whether Duke Energy can raise rates is made by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. When a rate increase is proposed, the commission holds public hearings where customers can share how higher utility costs affect their households and communities.

According to the hearing schedule released by state regulators, several public hearings are being held across North Carolina, but there is not one scheduled in Nash County. 

That does not mean residents cannot participate.

Customers still have several ways to make their voices heard before the commission makes its decision.

Public Hearing Opportunities

Residents can attend or participate in the following hearings:

Virtual Public Hearing- April 1, 20266:30 PM

Nearby In-Person Hearings

• Raleigh — March 30, 2026

• Lumberton — March 31, 2026

• Snow Hill — April 6, 2026

• Roxboro — April 13, 2026

Anyone who wants to speak during the hearing must register in advance.

Deadline to register to speak: March 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

If You Cannot Attend a Hearing

Even if you cannot attend a hearing in person or online, you can still submit a written public comment to the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

Written comments become part of the official record and can be reviewed by regulators when deciding whether to approve a proposed rate increase.

This means your voice can still be part of the process.

Sample Letter You Can Send

If you want to submit a comment but are not sure what to say, you can use the sample below as a guide.

Residents can copy, paste, and edit it to reflect their own experiences.

Subject: Public Comment on Duke Energy Progress Rate Increase

To the North Carolina Utilities Commission,

My name is ______, and I am a resident of ______ County, North Carolina, and a customer of Duke Energy Progress.

I am writing to express concern about continued increases in electricity rates affecting families in our community.

Many residents are already struggling with the rising cost of living, including housing, groceries, and transportation. Additional increases in utility bills place an even greater financial burden on households, seniors on fixed incomes, and working families.

Reliable electricity is essential, but affordability must also be considered when evaluating rate adjustments.

I respectfully ask the Commission to carefully review the impact these increases will have on everyday North Carolinians.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Name, City, NC

Why Public Input Matters

Public hearings and written comments help regulators understand how rate decisions affect real people.

If you are a Duke Energy customer in Nash County or surrounding areas, consider participating in the process or submitting a comment before the commission makes its final decision.

Share This With Someone Whose Power Bill Has Gone Up

If you found this information helpful, share it with friends, neighbors, and family so more residents know how they can participate in decisions that affect their utility bills.

Laws That Shape How Duke Energy Can Raise Rates

Several state laws passed by the North Carolina General Assembly affect how utilities like Duke Energy can request rate increases.

One of the most significant is House Bill 951, which became law in 2021.

The law made major changes to how electricity rates are regulated in North Carolina.

Multi-Year Rate Plans

Before this law, utilities typically had to request rate increases through separate cases each year.

House Bill 951 allows utilities to propose multi-year rate plans, meaning rate increases can be approved for multiple years at once instead of being reviewed annually.

This can allow utilities to plan large infrastructure investments while giving regulators the ability to approve gradual rate adjustments over several years.

Performance-Based Regulation

The law also introduced performance-based regulation, which allows utilities to earn additional profits if they meet certain performance goals set by regulators.

These goals may include improvements to grid reliability, customer service, or progress toward energy transition targets.

Carbon Reduction Requirements

House Bill 951 also directed the state to reduce carbon emissions from electric power generation by 70% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

Achieving these goals requires investments in new power plants, grid upgrades, and energy technologies, which can influence future electricity costs.

Role of the Utilities Commission

Even with these laws in place, utilities cannot raise rates on their own.

Rate increases must still be reviewed and approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which evaluates the company’s request and considers public input before making a final decision.

Sources: North Carolina Utilities Commission hearing schedule and public information releases.