Agreement reached involving  Duke Energy

According to Duke Energy, South Carolina customers are projected to benefit over time the result of the state PSC approving a settlement of Duke’s proposed combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress.  And, it says, the agreement will allow tracking customer savings backed with shareholder guarantees.  The state Department of Consumer Affairs says it intervened to represent consumers interests.  The DCA says Duke Energy Progress leveraged a new mechanism to request a rate increase of $10.20 a month for the average residential customers.  If approved, new rates take effect August 1.  The increase would add to the $11.23 average month increase that residential customers started paying in February, after the company’s most recent rate case.  In last year’s general rate increase, Duke Energy Progress requested a $21.26 monthly increase for the typical residential customers.  But, according to the DCA, the settlement reached reduced the monthly impact to $11.23.  Duke Energy Progress serves 13 counties in the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Grand Strand areas.