North Carolina
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State Intelligence
Updated May 26, 2026Utility Landscape
Duke Energy Carolinas
IOUWestern and central North Carolina, including Charlotte metro and Piedmont region
Filed a major general rate case in 2024 seeking substantial increases tied to grid hardening, Storm Recovery Rider costs, and nuclear fleet investments. NCUC has historically scrutinized Duke's capital cost recovery mechanisms closely, particularly post-Hurricane Helene storm cost filings.
Duke Energy Progress
IOUEastern and central North Carolina, including Raleigh metro and coastal plain
Operates under a separate rate structure from Duke Energy Carolinas and has pursued aggressive renewable energy transition planning under North Carolina's Carbon Plan mandate. Subject to ongoing NCUC review of its integrated resource plan and coal retirement schedules.
Dominion Energy North Carolina
IOUNortheastern North Carolina, including portions of the Halifax and Northampton county areas
Smaller footprint IOU operating in predominantly rural territory; has pursued rate adjustments tied to infrastructure modernization and aligning its North Carolina operations with Virginia regulatory outcomes.
ElectriCities of North Carolina
muniWholesale power supply and services to approximately 70 municipal electric systems statewide
Serves as the power agency for member municipalities purchasing from NCMPA1 and other joint power projects; member cities set retail rates independently, though ElectriCities' wholesale cost structure influences local affordability debates.
North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC)
coopStatewide generation and transmission cooperative serving 26 member electric cooperatives across rural North Carolina
As the G&T cooperative for member co-ops, NCEMC's power supply decisions significantly affect retail rates across rural service territories; increasingly engaged on distributed energy resource integration and CPCN filings for new generation assets.
Piedmont Natural Gas (Duke Energy subsidiary)
IOUNatural gas distribution across central and western North Carolina, including Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem
Filed a general rate case in 2024-2025 seeking recovery of infrastructure replacement and system integrity costs; faces growing scrutiny from NCUC and intervenors regarding long-term gas demand assumptions given state decarbonization trajectory under HB 951 implementation.
Key Issues
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Carbon Plan implementation and IRP compliance: Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are under ongoing NCUC oversight of their Carbon Plan compliance filings under HB 951, which requires carbon emissions reductions of 70% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050. Disputes center on the pace of coal retirement, offshore wind procurement delays, and the role of natural gas as a transition fuel.
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Hurricane Helene storm cost recovery: Duke Energy filed for recovery of substantial storm restoration costs following Hurricane Helene's October 2024 devastation in western North Carolina. NCUC proceedings involve contested issues of cost prudency, insurance offsets, and the appropriate amortization period for ratepayer cost allocation.
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Grid modernization and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployment: Duke Energy's multi-year AMI and distribution automation investment programs are subject to NCUC cost-benefit scrutiny, with consumer advocates challenging rate riders as a mechanism that may insulate capital spending from traditional prudency review.
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Offshore wind development and transmission cost allocation: Permitting delays and federal policy uncertainty under the post-2024 administration have complicated North Carolina's offshore wind procurement targets. NCUC is examining how transmission interconnection costs for offshore projects will be allocated among ratepayers and how delays affect IRP milestone commitments.
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Natural gas infrastructure long-term prudency: Piedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy Progress rate cases have elevated intervenor challenges to new gas infrastructure investments, with environmental and consumer groups arguing that long-lived gas assets risk becoming stranded costs as electrification accelerates under state energy policy.
Upcoming
Estimated deadline for Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress to submit their next annual Carbon Plan compliance update filings with NCUC, reflecting any revisions to coal retirement schedules, renewable procurement timelines, and demand forecast assumptions required under HB 951 rulemaking orders.
Estimated NCUC evidentiary hearing date for Duke Energy's Hurricane Helene storm cost recovery proceeding, at which intervenors including the Public Staff and environmental groups are expected to contest the prudency of approximately $1 billion in claimed restoration expenditures.
Estimated NCUC order expected on Piedmont Natural Gas general rate case, following completion of evidentiary hearings and briefing schedule; outcome will set precedent for how the Commission treats gas infrastructure capital costs in light of long-term demand uncertainty arguments raised by intervenors.
Estimated deadline for Duke Energy to file its next triennial Integrated Resource Plan update with NCUC, required to demonstrate a credible pathway to HB 951 carbon reduction targets; expected to reflect revised offshore wind procurement assumptions and any federal permitting developments affecting Atlantic coast projects.
Commissioner Watch
View all ↗John Gajda appointmented of the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
John Gajda appointmented of the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
Gov. Josh Stein appointed John Gajda, a 30-year utility industry veteran with experience at Duke Energy, NCUC staff, and electric cooperatives.
Commissioner William Brawley was elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as Chair of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, effective July 31, 2025.
Staff
26| Name | Title | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Needham | Chief Information Officer | (919) 733-4249 |
| M. Lynn Jarvis | Staff Attorney | (919) 733-4249 |
| Nathan Hunter Barber | Financial Analyst | (919) 733-0848 |
| Jon Barley | Regulatory Analyst II | (919) 733-0853 |
| Sarah Fitzpatrick | Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst | (919) 733-1249 |
| Jill Franke | Paralegal | (704) 619-1986 |
| John Gajda | Commissioner | (919) 513-3410 |
| Erin E Gibbs | Staff Attorney | (919) 733-0833 |
| Joyce Gwyn | Fiscal Management | (919) 733-4249 |
| Freda Hilburn | Director-Operations Division | (919) 733-4249 |
| Felicia Holder | Administrative Specialist | (919) 733-0838 |
| Madeline Hurley | Staff Attorney | (919) 417-3487 |
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