CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is working to raise rates to help them recover the cost of repairing damage caused by last year’s destructive hurricanes – Florence and Michael.
The nation’s largest energy company had to pay $761 million in storm recovery.
Watch the video above as Action 9's Jason Stoogenke looks into the precedent a rate hike like this sets.
Crews had to repair nearly 6,000 broken power poles, 220 miles of power lines and 150 substations.
Plus, December’s winter storm cost the company even more money.
“These were devastating storms that caused millions of dollars in damage to communities across the state and damaged significant portions of our state’s electric infrastructure,” said Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks.
[Duke Energy contemplating rate hikes for 2019 after major storms]
Duke Energy wants to charge North Carolina customers to cover $570 million that cost.
The state utility commission will get the final say, and approval, for what it means on your monthly bill.
That rate request will likely get sent to the commission later this year.
"Attorney General Stein is always concerned about fair costs for ratepayers and will review this request very closely," the Attorney General's Office told Channel 9 Friday.
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