North Carolina
North Carolina Utilities Commission
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State Intelligence
Updated Jun 1, 2026Utility Landscape
Duke Energy Carolinas
IOUWestern and central North Carolina, including Charlotte metro, Piedmont, and Mountain regions
Filed a major general rate case in 2024 seeking substantial revenue increases tied to grid hardening and coal transition costs; NCUC approved a settlement in early 2025 with partial recovery of storm-hardening investments and a multi-year rate plan framework under HB 951 carbon reduction requirements.
Duke Energy Progress
IOUCentral and eastern North Carolina, including Raleigh-Durham, Fayetteville, and coastal areas
Subject to parallel HB 951 carbon plan proceedings; ongoing scrutiny of offshore wind solicitation outcomes and integrated resource planning compliance, with NCUC staff challenging cost allocation between retail and wholesale customers in recent proceedings.
Dominion Energy North Carolina
IOUNortheastern North Carolina, roughly 28 counties including Rocky Mount and Elizabeth City areas
Smaller footprint IOU operating under Virginia-parent oversight; recent rate proceedings have focused on vegetation management cost recovery and natural gas distribution system modernization, with the commission closely scrutinizing affiliate transaction pricing.
ElectriCities of North Carolina
muniWholesale power supply for approximately 70 municipal electric systems across North Carolina
Operates as a joint action agency purchasing power on behalf of member municipalities; not directly rate-regulated by NCUC but subject to FERC wholesale oversight; member cities face retail rate pressure as legacy power supply contracts with Duke Energy expire and are renegotiated.
Four County Electric Membership Corporation
coopSoutheastern North Carolina including Sampson, Duplin, Pender, and Bladen counties
One of the largest EMCs in the state; participates in NCUC broadband cross-subsidy proceedings as it expands fiber infrastructure under FCC and USDA grant programs; power supply sourced through Tideland Electric and associated G&T cooperatives.
Piedmont Natural Gas
IOUNatural gas distribution across Piedmont and western North Carolina, including Charlotte, Greensboro, and Asheville service areas
Subsidiary of Duke Energy; last major rate case settled in 2023 with modest revenue increase; currently under NCUC review regarding gas system integrity management cost recovery and facing advocacy pressure related to building electrification policy and long-term gas demand forecasting assumptions.
Key Issues
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HB 951 Carbon Plan Implementation: NCUC is overseeing biennial carbon plan updates requiring Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress to demonstrate credible pathways to 70% carbon reduction by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, with contested evidentiary hearings on least-cost resource portfolios, offshore wind development timelines, and the role of small modular reactors in the long-term resource mix.
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Offshore Wind Procurement and Cost Recovery: Both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are advancing offshore wind solicitations under HB 951 mandates; NCUC proceedings are actively examining prudency standards for bid selection, interconnection cost allocation, and whether ratepayers or shareholders bear development risk for projects facing federal permitting uncertainty along the North Carolina coast.
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Grid Resilience and Storm Hardening Cost Recovery: Following significant hurricane and ice storm damage in 2023-2024, both Duke entities have sought accelerated recovery of grid hardening capital investments; NCUC is evaluating proposed tracker mechanisms versus traditional rate-case treatment, with consumer advocates contesting the pace and magnitude of proposed cost recovery.
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Electric Cooperative Broadband Cross-Subsidization: NCUC staff and the Public Staff have raised concerns about whether EMCs are improperly cross-subsidizing broadband buildouts with electric utility revenues, prompting a generic docket examining accounting separation requirements and the permissible scope of cooperative broadband activities under North Carolina law.
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Integrated Resource Planning and Coal Retirement Scheduling: Contested IRP proceedings for Duke Energy Progress involve disputes over the retirement timing of Roxboro and Mayo coal plants, with environmental intervenors pushing for accelerated closure and Duke arguing grid reliability requires extended operation pending replacement capacity confirmation from new gas peakers and battery storage additions.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress to file updated Carbon Plan compliance reports with NCUC, including revised offshore wind procurement status, demand response program metrics, and IRP alignment documentation as required under the biennial HB 951 review cycle.
Estimated NCUC evidentiary hearing commencement for Duke Energy Progress general rate case, anticipated to be filed in spring 2026; proceedings expected to address storm cost tracker proposals, nuclear fuel cost recovery, and revenue requirement increases tied to capital additions at Harris Nuclear Plant.
Estimated NCUC technical conference on electric cooperative broadband accounting separation rules, following conclusion of the comment period in the generic broadband cross-subsidization docket; outcome will set statewide compliance standards for all EMC broadband operations in North Carolina.
Estimated NCUC order deadline on Piedmont Natural Gas gas system integrity management tracker filing, which requests a between-rate-case cost recovery mechanism for accelerated pipeline replacement expenditures; decision will signal commission posture on formula-rate mechanisms for gas distribution utilities statewide.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗John Gajda appointmented of the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
Gov. Josh Stein appointed John Gajda, a 30-year utility industry veteran with experience at Duke Energy, NCUC staff, and electric cooperatives.
Commissioner William Brawley was elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as Chair of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, effective July 31, 2025.
Staff
26| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Needham | Chief Information Officer | (919) 733-4249 |
| M. Lynn Jarvis | Staff Attorney | (919) 733-4249 |
| Nathan Hunter Barber | Financial Analyst | (919) 733-0848 |
| Jon Barley | Regulatory Analyst II | (919) 733-0853 |
| Sarah Fitzpatrick | Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst | (919) 733-1249 |
| Jill Franke | Paralegal | (704) 619-1986 |
| John Gajda | Commissioner | (919) 513-3410 |
| Erin E Gibbs | Staff Attorney | (919) 733-0833 |
| Joyce Gwyn | Fiscal Management | (919) 733-4249 |
| Freda Hilburn | Director-Operations Division | (919) 733-4249 |
| Felicia Holder | Administrative Specialist | (919) 733-0838 |
| Madeline Hurley | Staff Attorney | (919) 417-3487 |
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