GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) has approved a comprehensive settlement agreement with all parties in the Duke Energy Progress rate review request filed with the commission in September of last year. As a result, new customer rates are expected to take effect April 1.
The comprehensive agreement between the company and consumer, environmental and industrial groups in South Carolina was submitted in January in conjunction with a public hearing on the matter.
Beginning April 1, the typical residential customer in South Carolina using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity will pay about $10.95 more per month, or 8.2%. Commercial and industrial customers will see an average increase of around 3.7% and 2.2%, respectively (actual rates vary by customer class and size).
The total increase will be approximately $52 million, about 41% less than the $89 million Duke Energy Progress requested to recover investments made to increase system reliability and resiliency, achieve a cleaner, smarter energy future, and focus on operational excellence and enhancing the customer experience for more than 172,000 customers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.
Among other provisions approved by the commission, the agreement resolves recovery of coal ash basin closure costs in this case, allows for continued investment in infrastructure to further modernize the grid, and establishes a reserve to help mitigate the costs to restore service after major storms. The settlement also allows Duke Energy Progress a return on equity of 9.6% and an equity component of the capital structure of 52.43%.
The agreement was reached with the Office of Regulatory Staff, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the South Carolina Energy Users Committee, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Coastal Conservation League, Vote Solar, the Sierra Club, the Department of Defense/Federal Executive Agencies, Walmart, Nucor Steel and the Small Business Chamber of Commerce.
