Duke Energy protects customers from data center costs
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy and stakeholders have reached an agreement that further protects existing customers from costs to serve data centers and other large-load customers in North Carolina. Duke Energy proactively implemented substantial customer protections in 2024 to ensure that large-load customers pay the costs to serve them. The agreement memorializes and enhances those protections. These changes are reflected in a new settlement between the company's two North Carolina utilities – Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress – and North Carolina Public Staff, the agency representing utility customers. Other parties to the agreement include Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Carolina Industrial Group for Fair Utility Rates and the U.S. Department of Defense. Our view: "It's simple – data centers will pay upfront for all costs to connect to the grid," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "We're shielding other customers from these costs in a way that protects reliability and ensures everyone benefits from the economic growth coming to North Carolina." Agreement summary: Why it matters: Duke Energy had previously required data centers and other large loads (100 megawatts or more) to agree to contract terms that protect other customers from such costs. If approved by state regulators, this new agreement would apply...
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