DURHAM – Despite raking in over $5 billion in profits last year, Duke Energy is lobbying to increase energy rates. 

Organizers with Advance Carolina and North Carolina Black Alliance hosted a teach-in June 2 to educate residents about the proposed hike. The event also encouraged participants to speak against the rate increase at the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s public hearing. 

LaTosha Gibson, an organizer with Advance Carolina, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, presented that the proposed 18% increase for residential customers would mean an additional $15 per every $100 customers will pay. Her electric bill was over $400 in February. She is also a self-employed individual contractor. 

“With the rising fuel costs, I cannot afford these rates, so I am asking the commission to reject these rates,” she said. Gibson said the motive behind the rate hikes are for “frontloading” economic development projects like data centers.

In its 2026 Interim Report, the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force writes that “Duke estimates energy demand from economic development projects will grow from 1,800 GWh in 2026 to between 29,000 and 33,000 GWh by 2030,” and “data centers account for 80% of the projected energy demand, indicating that data centers have uniquely high energy needs compared to traditional industries.”

The rationale behind the rate hikes is to get a return on equity for the company’s investors: a requested 10.10%. 

“The more they spend, they get more money back,” Gibson explained. She also presented that while the median Duke employee earns around $129,000, Duke Energy President and CEO Lynn Good earns $1.5 million annually. 

The utilities giant needs approval from the N.C. Utilities Commission, which has held a series of public hearings across the state. The last of these hearings took place June 3 at the Durham County Courthouse.

At Tuesday’s event, participants shared their personal stories about the impact the increased cost will have. 

Terryn Hall, an organizer with Climate Power NC, walked participants through a way to design their own impact statements. 

“The conflict is that the rising energy rates means that I can’t do the things that I need to do. To give that context, what does that mean?” Hall said. “If I can’t afford my medication or my car note because I have to pay higher electricity bills, that means that I can’t get to work.” 

Elizabeth Moore has lived in Durham for 40 years and is conscious of direction from Duke Energy to keep central air and heating at specific temperatures during different times of the year. 

“I have a large garden and woods around my house. I do supplemental heating with firewood,” she said. “We keep our home at 80 degrees in the summer and 72 degrees in the winter. People with income below $30,000 should be exempt from the rate hikes.”

Omar G. said he finds it difficult to enjoy what the state has to offer: history, art, culture and lush green spaces. He has to work longer hours to afford rent and groceries. 

“Now I have to foot the bill for Duke Energy because they’re wanting to make extra profit,” he said. “I really oppose this, because why should I have to pay more when the CEO wants to make an extra billion dollars on top of what their current salary already is and pocket that money just so they can power these data centers that we didn’t ask for?”

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