COLUMBIA, S.C. — Several environmental groups joined a settlement with Duke Energy Progress this week involving Duke’s application for a rate increase at the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Earlier this year, Duke requested an average rate increase of 12.1% (and 15.1% for residential customers), or nearly $75 million, citing the need to reflect the improvements they’ve made to the power grid.
On behalf of the Coastal Conservation League, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Vote Solar, and Upstate Forever (CCL et al.), the Southern Environmental Law Center reached a settlement that requires Duke to:
- Join CCL et al.with Sierra Club, the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs, and the S.C. Small Business Chamber of Commerce in asking the Commission to open a proceeding to consider how to protect residents and small businesses from potential energy system upgrade costs related to massive new computer data centers and other large energy users;
- Work with CCL et al. to develop new home weatherization and solar plus battery programs to help reduce customer bills; and
- In its next rate case, file studies showing different ways to share increased electric system costs among residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Other parties joined a stipulation to limit the increase to Duke’s return on equity to 9.99%, compared with the 10.85% proposed in Duke’s application. CCL et al. did not join this separate stipulation but agreed not to oppose it.
“Data centers and other new large load customers are driving most of the need for new generation and transmission investments in South Carolina; under this agreement, we are glad to join with Duke and other parties to ask the Commission to evaluate these issues closely,” said Kate Mixson, SELC Senior Attorney. “We also look forward to working with Duke to expand its current EE/DSM and clean energy programs to help reduce strain on the grid and lower customer bills.”
“Far too many South Carolinians are already struggling with unaffordable energy bills, but there are proven solutions to help alleviate the cost burdens facing families and small businesses,” said Taylor Allred, CCL State Energy & Climate Program Director. “With rising electric rates, it is especially important to implement solutions like these so that everyday customers can keep the lights on and be protected from having to unfairly share the cost to interconnect massive new data centers.”
“We are trying to make sure that residential customers don’t end up paying for costs related to the coming wave of big energy users,” said Eddy Moore of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “We also want to lower overall energy system costs by making rebates for core home energy efficiency improvements available to all customers.”
“As South Carolina continues to experience rapid growth, we must ensure that ratepayers are protected from bearing the cost of bringing high energy users onto the grid,” said Michael Coleman, Upstate Forever State Policy Director. “It is also critical to expand access to proven solutions like energy efficiency and home weatherization programs that can help many households already struggling with a high energy burden reduce their energy bills.”
“South Carolina has a responsibility to keep bills affordable for all communities in an era of rising rates and increased power demand,” said Jake Duncan, Vote Solar’s Southeast Senior Regulatory Director. “This settlement commits Duke to design new customer programs that incentivize customer-owned distributed energy resources—such as rooftop solar and storage—that will help the state’s growing energy demand, reduce all customer energy bills, and minimize the need for more expensive grid infrastructure.”
If approved, the new rate would go into effect February 2026.
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The Coastal Conservation League advocates to protect the natural environment of South Carolina’s coast for the benefit of all. We envision a South Carolina coast where wildlife thrives, air and water are clean, and natural landscapes are protected for generations to come. coastalconservationleague.org
The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. selc.org
Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible and equitable energy choices to ensure clean, safe, and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. cleanenergy.org
Upstate Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects critical lands, waters, and the unique character of Upstate South Carolina. upstateforever.org
Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance state-level policies that make solar solutions accessible to all. Since 2002, Vote Solar has worked to build an equitable clean energy future by leveraging deep policy expertise, strategic partnerships, and public engagement. In the face of powerful opposition, Vote Solar champions bold solutions that expand clean energy access, drive investment in frontline communities, and accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy. votesolar.org
Media contacts:
Meg Mathis, 843-725-1291, megm@scccl.org
Rachel Chu, 843-619-4617, rchu@selc.org
Sally Boman, sboman@upstateforever.org
Estrella Lozano, elozano@votesolar.org