Duke Energy protesters gather in Raleigh over fossil fuel expansion plans, rising bills

Protesters are expected to gather on Wednesday to oppose Duke Energy with a demonstration in downtown Raleigh.

Environmentally conscious advocates, led by nonprofit group NC WARN, are raising concerns about rising power bills and fossil fuel expansion, as regulators approve a merger that could change how electricity is delivered in North Carolina. 

A main source of frustration for protesters is the continually rising power bills. Electric bills in North Carolina have risen about 22% since 2020. Fossil fuel expansion is another concern.

Rally organizers said some protesters plan to block entrances to the Governor’s Mansion as part of a campaign of civil disobedience. Activists want North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein to take a stronger stance against Duke Energy’s plans for new natural gas plants and delayed coal retirements.

Recently, a Duke Energy merger got final approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The company will now move forward with combining its two utilities - Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The merger will be regulated by the NCUC, and expert analysis on impacts to rates and clean energy. 

The Utilities Commission heard directly from those concerns during a public hearing in March. It was then reported that Duke Energy requested approval from state regulators for an increase in residential electric rates of up to 18% over a two-year period. That would mean the average customer could pay an average of approximately $34 more per month by 2028.

In August, Duke Energy claimed the proposed merger would save customers more than $1 billion by 2038.

State regulators have paused major new solar development decisions until Duke Energy's updated carbon plan is approved later in 2026 — delaying enough solar projects to power roughly 130,000 homes.

"We have to get past the corporate propaganda that has led North Carolina to think we're going in the right direction," said NC WARN executive director Jim Warren. "We have to make clear to the governor and others that we are morally committed and a lot of people in North Carolina, with so many people hurting, we are morally committed to doing everything peacefully possible to change the direction of this giant corporate polluter."

Protesters held signs that said, "stop climate deception" and "people over profits" across the street from the Governor's Mansion. 

Duke Energy declined to comment on the protest. In earlier correspondence, the company said it needs a mix of energy sources — including natural gas, nuclear, solar and battery storage — to meet rapidly growing power demand across the Carolinas.

During the protest, several protesters stood in front of the mansion gate and were questioned by State Capitol Police. Warren told officers the group would stay there as long as it takes to be heard.