Duke Energy Deal Shields Customers From Data Center Grid Costs
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – October 07, 2026 -- Duke Energy has reached a settlement with North Carolina regulators and major tech firms that forces data centers and other large-load customers to pay upfront for all grid connection costs, shielding existing ratepayers from the expense of the state's data center boom.
Settlement expands cost protections to a wider pool of large-load customers
The agreement, filed with North Carolina Public Staff, lowers the threshold for mandatory customer protections from 100 megawatts to 50 megawatts with an 80% load factor. It applies to any electric service agreement signed after June 1, 2026, at Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, the utility's two North Carolina subsidiaries.