Duke Energy customers protest proposed rate hike: 'When is enough, enough?'
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Duke Energy customers packed a courthouse and spilled outside as frustrations mounted about rising power bills and a proposed electricity rate increase.
"When is enough, enough?" one person said from inside the courtroom.
The crowd grew so large that deputies were forced to close the doors, leaving others outside waiting to share their stories. Many described financial strain tied to their utility costs.
They're jacking up your prices, and they won't even look you in the eye.- Carolina Sparks, Duke Energy customer
"They're jacking up your prices, and they won't even look you in the eye," said customer Caroline Sparks.
Duke Energy customers said they are fed up, with some reporting their bills have doubled. Others raised concerns about the company's proposal to increase rates by about 18% during the next two years. The proposal must be approved by the state utilities commission.
"People are really upset. They can't pay their bills," Sparks said.
She also shared her family's experience.
"I just went to the grocery store with my dad to get groceries with him because he's retired, on a fixed income, and he put back a $3 burrito because he said it was too high," Sparks said.
People are choosing between medicine, food, and paying their power bills.- Michelle Carter, Duke Energy customer
Another customer, Michelle Carter, said her bill spiked during colder weather.
"In February, during the cold snap, my bill raised by 110% and my usage, habits, and patterns did not change at all," Carter said.
Carter, who works with seniors, said many are struggling to afford basic needs.
"People are choosing between medicine, food, and paying their power bills. There's no doubt about it. Most of my seniors, again, are on fixed incomes. They don't drive. They don't have major expenses. It is their power bills, utility bills that are crushing them," she said.
Charlesa Redmond, a graduate student, waited in a long line that wrapped around the building to voice concerns about the potential effects.
"For people who are living on a very low income, it really is going to mean the difference between running or not running the AC in the heat of the summer or running or not running the heat in the dead of the winter," Redmond said.
Duke Energy responded to the concerns, saying the request reflects the cost of maintaining and expanding infrastructure to meet demand.
"There's never a good time to request an increase. that's a difficult it's a difficult ask for many customers. You know, this is a very capital-intensive business to meet the growing energy needs in our state," said Jeff Brooks, Duke Energy spokesman.
The company said the proposed increase would help replace 50,000 poles, upgrade 40,000 miles of new lines, and support system reliability.
"We have to make those timely investments ahead of that growth so that we're reliable as it comes through. But there is a cost to that. And so these, the request that's being proposed does reflect actual costs that we've incurred to meet our customers' energy needs," Brooks said.
If approved, the rate increase would take effect in January 2027.
