NC Utilities Commission Coverage

April 10 marks 5 years since deadly Durham gas explosion

Wednesday marks five years since a deadly natural gas explosion killed two people and injured two dozen others west of downtown Durham.

Settlements reached in Durham explosion cases

The lawsuits filed by the injured and deceased victims and their families from the deadly explosion in Durham have been settled. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Settlements reached in downtown Durham explosion lawsuits

The lawsuits filed by the injured and deceased victims and their families from the deadly explosion in Durham have been settled. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL investigative reporter

CYNTHIA SATTERFIELD: Duke Energy - less reliability, higher costs

Friday, June 30, 2023 -- Mere months after inflicting rolling blackouts that left half a million North Carolinians in the frigid dark on Christmas Eve, Duke Energy is seeking regulators' approval of two massive price increases on the fundamental service it provides.

Editorial: New law misses opportunity to truly protect state's energy transmission networks

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 -- Legislators passed and Gov. Roy Cooper signed a toothless placebo of a law merely addressing the symptoms of attacks on our electric power distribution system, missing an opportunity to more effectively protect the state's power transmission infrastructure.

In Depth with Dan: Duke Energy balances profits, production

North Carolina's biggest utility to beholden first to shareholders, then to customers.

Regulators discuss rate hike for Duke Energy customers

State utility regulators will meet Thursday to discuss by how much the utility company should be allowed to raise electricity rates.

A larger utility bill: Duke Energy planning to increase rates over 3 years

Your Duke Energy bill will likely be going up -- but by how much?

Monica Casey, WRAL Durham reporter

WARD LENZ: The day the irony died

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 -- The largest companies in North Carolina are asking for more clean energy solutions. Why not support them in their endeavor to reduce their emissions footprint? This is a great opportunity to bring those jobs and investments we're seeing in states like Iowa right here.

CARRIE CLARK: Duke Energy's failure sheds light on a way forward

Thursday Jan. 5, 2023 -- The lessons from the Christmas storm and big chill are clear: Climate change is causing more extreme and unpredictable weather; Gas and coal aren't always dependable in extreme weather, while renewable energy with battery storage is more reliable.

Fact-checking Duke Energy's forecast claim for Christmas Eve blackouts

WRAL Investigates looked into whether Duke Energy's forecasting was accurate leading up to last month's rolling blackouts.

Was Duke Energy's forecasting accurate? Questions remain after Christmas Eve blackouts

WRAL Investigates looked into whether Duke Energy's forecasting was accurate leading up to last month's rolling blackouts.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Duke Energy leaders respond to rolling blackout backlash

On Tuesday, Duke Energy leaders apologized to customers and explained what caused rolling blackouts that left half a million people without power over Christmas weekend.

Technology, equipment failures prolonged blackouts on Christmas Eve

Duke Energy leaders on Tuesday apologized to customers and explained what caused rolling blackouts that left half 500,000 people without power over Christmas weekend.

Duke Energy apologizes to customers, says demand for electricity led to rolling Christmas Eve blackouts

Duke Energy on Tuesday apologized to customers and explained what caused rolling blackouts that left half a million people without power over Christmas weekend.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter and Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Power grid gridlock?

Tuesday Jan. 3, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

New North Carolina Carbon plan draws criticism

North Carolina law requires Duke Energy and other electric utility providers to reduce carbon emissions by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

North Carolina's Carbon Plan criticized for lack of specifics, energy reliability and possible higher bills

North Carolina law requires Duke Energy and other electric utility providers to reduce carbon emissions by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

NC's soon-to-be unveiled Carbon Plan to set goals, guidelines for moving to greener energy sources

A plan set to be released this week will control the future of electric power in North Carolina.

Laura Leslie, NCCapitol Bereau Chief

Duke Energy execs brief state regulators on Moore County power station attack

Duke Energy executives appeared before state utilities regulators Monday, providing few new details as investigation continues into Moore County substation attack.

Travis Fain, state government reporter

ALLI GOLD ROBERTS: Major NC employers say state regulators must adopt stronger plan for power sector

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 -- North Carolina's business community infuses billions of dollars into the state's economy each year, provides tens of thousands of jobs for hardworking North Carolinians, and provides goods, services and technologies to every corner of the state. It is asking the state Utilities Commission to craft a plan that prioritizes least-cost resources like energy efficiency and other proven, low-cost, clean technologies including solar, wind, and battery storage.

Editorial: Sabotage in Moore County can't be tolerated. Act swiftly, prevent its spread

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 -- The disruption to life and commerce in Moore County will -- we hope -- be over shortly and the facilities rebuilt. But the impact of what happened won't fade as quickly. It remains as an urgent warning that action is necessary now to address the vulnerabilities that became all too apparent.

MEG JAMISON: Local governments call for strong, affordable carbon plan

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022 -- Local governments are making meaningful contributions toward reducing harmful carbon emissions, but in North Carolina those local governments do not have a choice of energy providers, and rely on their designated provider - primarily Duke Energy - to meet their energy needs. It is important to local governments that Duke Energy make choices about energy sources that further reduce emissions, complementing efforts at the local level to create a cleaner, healthier state, and to protect North Carolinians from the expensive costs associated with a volatile global fossil fuel market.

New area code issued for 910, impacting Fayetteville, Wilmington and others

There's a new area code in town.

Final public hearings set for Tuesday on carbon plan development

The NC Utilities Commission will hear public feedback at two hearings Tuesday for the carbon plan it must develop by the end of the year to reduce carbon emissions from energy plants in the state. There has been backlash from climate activists about Duke Energy's proposal, which some say relies to heavily on natural gas.

Liz McLaughlin, WRAL Reporter