North Carolina
North Carolina Utilities Commission
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Commissioners
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State Intelligence
Updated Aug 3, 2026Utility Landscape
Duke Energy Carolinas
IOUWestern and central NC including Charlotte metro, piedmont, and foothills regions
Subject to NCUC's Carbon Plan directives requiring substantial coal retirement and renewable buildout through 2050. Filed a major rate case in 2023 resulting in a significant base rate increase approved in 2024; next general rate case expected in 2026-2027 timeframe.
Duke Energy Progress
IOUEastern and central NC including Raleigh metro, sandhills, and coastal plain regions
Jointly subject to Carbon Plan compliance obligations alongside Duke Energy Carolinas; actively pursuing SMR and offshore wind pilot studies. Faces scrutiny over storm hardening cost recovery and grid resilience investments following Hurricane Helene impacts.
Dominion Energy North Carolina
IOUNortheastern NC counties bordering Virginia including Halifax, Northampton, and surrounding areas
Smaller NC footprint but subject to NCUC jurisdiction; coordinates closely with Virginia State Corporation Commission given integrated service territory. Focused on infrastructure modernization and alignment with parent Dominion's clean energy transition commitments.
ElectriCities of North Carolina
muniStatewide power supply agency serving approximately 70 municipal electric systems across NC
Acts as power supply manager for member municipalities; navigating wholesale power contract restructuring as members face pressure to integrate renewables and comply with state energy transition goals. Not directly rate-regulated by NCUC but subject to wholesale oversight.
Four County Electric Membership Corporation
coopSoutheastern NC including Bladen, Columbus, Pender, and Sampson counties
One of NC's larger electric cooperatives; pursuing grid modernization through AMI deployment and exploring broadband service expansion under federal USDA and BEAD program funding. Cooperatives in NC have limited NCUC rate-setting jurisdiction but are subject to service quality oversight.
Piedmont Natural Gas
IOUStatewide natural gas distribution serving piedmont, western, and portions of eastern NC; subsidiary of Duke Energy
Filed for rate increases to recover pipeline infrastructure replacement and safety upgrade costs; faces growing regulatory pressure regarding gas system long-term viability as NC Carbon Plan advances electrification. NCUC approved a multiyear rate mechanism in recent proceedings to smooth capital recovery.
Key Issues
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Carbon Plan implementation: NCUC is overseeing Duke Energy's compliance with HB 951 (2021), which mandates 70% carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050; the commission is evaluating integrated resource plan (IRP) filings for coal retirement schedules, SMR feasibility studies, and offshore wind procurement timelines, with significant litigation risk over technology assumptions and cost allocation.
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Duke Energy rate case cycle and grid resilience cost recovery: Post-Hurricane Helene storm restoration costs and infrastructure hardening investments are expected to drive near-term rate case filings for both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, with intervenors focused on whether storm costs reflect prudent utility planning and whether low-income protections are adequate.
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Renewable energy interconnection queue backlogs and CPCN proceedings: NCUC is processing a growing volume of Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity applications for utility-scale solar, battery storage, and wind projects; transmission upgrade cost allocation and interconnection study delays are creating friction between independent developers and Duke Energy as the incumbent transmission operator.
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Natural gas infrastructure long-term planning and stranded asset risk: Piedmont Natural Gas and intervenors are in active dispute before NCUC regarding the prudency of long-lived gas pipeline investments in light of electrification mandates; environmental and ratepayer advocates are pressing for a formal gas system planning proceeding to assess stranded cost exposure.
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Electric cooperative broadband expansion and NCUC jurisdictional questions: Several NC electric cooperatives are deploying fiber broadband networks using USDA ReConnect and BEAD funding, raising unresolved questions about NCUC's oversight authority over coop broadband affiliates and whether cross-subsidization safeguards are adequate.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress to submit updated Carbon Plan compliance filings and revised IRP assumptions to NCUC, reflecting 2026 load forecast updates and SMR program status reports; exact date subject to commission scheduling order.
Estimated NCUC evidentiary hearing on Piedmont Natural Gas infrastructure cost recovery and gas system planning docket; hearing schedule anticipated following completion of discovery and prefiled testimony exchange rounds initiated in mid-2026.
Estimated NCUC order deadline on pending solar and battery storage CPCN applications filed by Duke Energy Progress for eastern NC projects; commission has indicated intent to issue consolidated rulings on interconnected projects to reduce docket backlog.
Estimated filing window for Duke Energy Carolinas general rate case, anticipated based on regulatory cadence following 2024 rate case order and utility guidance on capital expenditure recovery needs; a filing in early 2027 would target a 2027-2028 effective date for new base rates.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗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.
Related PUC Watch intelligence
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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