Friday, Nov. 27, 2009

Duke Energy seeking 9.2 percent rate hike

GREENVILLE - Duke Energy's residential customers in South Carolina would pay nearly 10 percent more for power by February under a compromise proposal headed to regulators.

Duke and the Office of Regulatory Staff, the state agency responsible for protecting the public interest in utility matters, has agreed on the proposed settlement days before the Public Service Commission is scheduled to begin considering a rate hike that Duke requested in July.

The proposed settlement calls for homeowner costs to rise 9.2 percent, taking the average bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours from between $80 and $87 a month to between $90 and $93 a month, Duke said.

Manufacturers, meanwhile, would get a 5 percent decrease. Rates for commercial customers would rise 4 percent.

The proposal must be approved by the Public Service Commission before it can take effect.

- The Greenville News

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