Duke Energy Rate Increases Take Effect

Duke Energy customers are about to see an increase in their monthly bills, with new rates taking effect Tuesday.

Rates are going up an average of 4.7% across all of the Charlotte-based utility's customer groups.

According to a news release, residential customers will see a bigger increase than in the commercial and industrial sectors. A typical residential customer's average monthly power bill will rise to just under $120. That's a bump of about $6.

The N.C. Utilities Commission approved the new rates earlier this year. The commission also approved several company proposals designed to assist low- and fixed-income customers.

Duke Energy initially requested a significantly larger rate increase to help pay for coal ash cleanup but agreed to a settlement it says will save customers more than $1 billion.

Duke Energy serves 1.4 million households and businesses in central and eastern North Carolina, and in the Asheville region.