Protests Pile Up Against Proposed Duke Energy Rate Increase

Have a problem with Duke Energy's request to raise its rates by more than 16 percent? You're not alone.

With a rate-increase proposal pending before the SC Public Service Commission, more than 1,600 individuals and businesses so far have filed protest letters with the commission whose job it is to grant or deny Duke's request, GSA Business reported.

Hearings on Duke’s rate request are set to commence on July 31. In the meantime, the PSC has set up a number of public meetings to gather comment on the proposed rate increase, including a series of Upstate meetings set for later this month.

Those public meetings are scheduled for:

— June 24, Greenville County Council Chambers, 301 University Ridge, Suite 2400, Greenville.

— June 27, Anderson Civic Center, Ballrooms A&B, 3027 MLK Jr. Blvd., Anderson

— June 20, Spartanburg Community College, Tracy J. Gaines Building Auditorium, 800 Brisack Road, Spartanburg.

Each public hearing is set to start at 6 p.m.

Duke Energy is seeking to raise rates for a third time since 2010, this time by an average 15.1 percent. The request would increase rates by an average 16.3 percent for residential customers, 14 percent for commercial customers and 14.4 percent for industrial users.

Duke has said the increase, which would boost revenues by $220 million, is needed to offset investments in infrastructure and new energy production.

To access the protest letters, click here.

What do you think of Duke's proposed rate increases? Tell us in the comments below.