Dive Summary:

• Duke Energy Carolinas is seeking a 9.7% rate hike in North Carolina to cover half the cost of two new coal units built 70 miles outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. The new units at the Cliffside plant went online this past December.
• Duke recently added Unit 5 and 6 to Cliffside in a $2.2 billion series of additions. The two units generate more than twice the electricity the plant did before four 1940s-vintage units were shut down, but release 80% less sulfur dioxide and half as much nitrogen oxide and mercury into the air. Duke says it is one of the nation’s cleanest coal plants.
• This latest request will raise residential bills by 14% starting in the fall, and marks Duke Energy Carolinas’ third rate hike request since 2009.

From the article:

“Duke says Cliffside is a bargain for consumers. The new addition came in on budget, in contrast to a Duke plant in Indiana that is $1 billion over initial estimates.”