Duke Energy filed its long-range plan with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, calling for more natural gas-fired generation and batteries while keeping existing coal plants online to meet accelerated demand for electricity.

Duke Energy has asked state and federal regulators to combine its two electric utilities that serve the Carolinas in a move it said would result in billions of dollars of customer savings.

Duke Energy reported earnings of $1.25/share for the second quarter, and its CEO told analysts the company also came out ahead with state and federal legislation.

Duke Energy described plans to invest up to $200 billion in the next decade to meet demand growth across its multiple utilities during an earnings call for the first quarter of 2025.

FERC approved Duke Energy's Order 2023 compliance filing, which leaves in place the utility's two-phase cluster study process designed to give interconnection customers more information on costs earlier in the process.

The NCUC approved Duke Energy's second Carbon Plan and Integrated Resource Plan, authorizing procurements of renewable energy, nuclear and demand response, while calling for its 8,000 MW of coal to be retired in 2036.

While most customers have seen their power restored since Hurricane Helene hit, some of the hardest hit and most remote customers could wait weeks to get their lights back.

North Carolina residents called upon the Utilities Commission to address Duke Energy’s preferred carbon plan, criticizing its slow pace of coal plant retirements and increase in gas plants compared to other options.