Duke Energy’s Rate Deal in Hot Weather | Durham News

North Carolina swelters under another wave of 90-degree heat, straining wallets as AC units run nonstop — but the real pain point? Duke Energy’s looming rate hike, now slashed by more than half in a new settlement. While customers blame soaring bills on the heat (not yet approved rates), Duke’s second-quarter earnings reveal record profits — over $1 billion — and a staggering $2.6 billion profit for the first half of the year. Consumer advocates and environmental groups push for even deeper cuts, arguing Duke’s massive profits should fund grid upgrades, especially since data centers are gobbling up power. Duke counters that these big users will ultimately benefit everyone through long-term revenue, funding critical infrastructure. The Utilities Commission will decide on the final rates by January 2027. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4d400c88521ab2a6