Taniqua Pennix
Reporter
Duke Energy proposes to raise energy rates for Spartanburg SC residents
4.COM. WELL, DUKE ENERGY IS PROPOSING TO ITS ENERGY TO RAISE ITS ENERGY RATES BY 20% IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THIS IS A MOVE THAT WILL INCREASE ELECTRIC BILLS FOR THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS IN THE UPSTATE. OUR TANIQUA PENNIX SAT DOWN WITH A SPARTANBURG RESIDENT AND TANIQUA. THE TWO OF YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT HER HOUSEHOLD. THAT’S RIGHT RASHAD, I SPOKE TO ONE WOMAN AND SHE TELLS ME HOW IT WILL IMPACT HER. AND I’M HERE DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THIS RATE INCREASE COULD AFFECT EVERYONE HERE. JUST SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. EVELYN BLAKELY HAS LIVED IN SPARTANBURG FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND ALTHOUGH SHE APPRECIATES THE GROWTH SHE’S WITNESSED, SHE BELIEVES DUKE CONTINUES TO INCREASE THEIR RATES BECAUSE OF IT. THEY ARE BRINGING IN ALL OF THESE MASSIVE CORPORATIONS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. I MEAN, YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE YOUR CITY AND YOUR COUNTY GROW, AND YOU WANT BETTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF THE GENERAL CONSUMER. DUKE’S PROPOSAL STATES, A TYPICAL CUSTOMERS BILL MAY RISE BY ABOUT $18, WITH ANOTHER, SMALLER INCREASE PLANNED IN 2026. THIS IS A BURDEN ON THE CONSUMER THAT WE REALLY SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BEAR. WE DID NOT RUN OUR HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING THAT MUCH. AS A RESIDENT OF THE LIBERTY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD, EVELYN SAYS MOST PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY ARE 55 AND OLDER, AND SOME ARE RELYING ON THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH SHE SAYS IS LESS THAN $1,000 A MONTH. LEAVING THEM WITH SOME HEAVY DECISIONS TO MAKE. AM I GOING TO LIVE IN A HOME? AM I GOING TO BE HOMELESS? AM I GOING TO GET MY MEDICATION? YOU KNOW, AM I GOING TO EAT? WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU CAN’T AFFORD WHAT DUKE ENERGY WANTS TO DO. YOU REALLY CAN’T. AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS BEFORE DUKE ENERGY CAN START RAISING RATES, THEY WILL NEED APPROVAL FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. AND DUKE ENERGY HAS TOLD US THIS INCREASE IS NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND AND SECURITY REPORTING LIVE IN SP
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Duke Energy proposes to raise energy rates for Spartanburg SC residents
Taniqua Pennix
Reporter
Duke Energy’s proposal to raise its energy rates by almost 20% in the next two years.Evelyn Blakley has lived in Spartanburg for more than 20 years. She says appreciates the growth she's witnessed, but believes Duke Energy continues to increase its rates because of it. “They're bringing in all of these massive corporations which is a good thing, you really want to see your city and your county grow and better employment opportunities, but not at the cost of the general consumer,” she says.Duke's proposal states a typical customer's bill may rise by about $18, with another smaller increase planned in 2026. As a resident of the Liberty Heights Neighborhood, Evelyn said most people in her community are 55 and older and some are relying on their social security, which for some could be less than $1,000 a month. This leaves them with some heavy decisions to make.“Am I going to live in a home, am I going to be homeless, am I going to get my medication, am I going to eat," she says. Duke Energy says the increase is needed to keep up with demand and security, but before they can start raising rates they will need approval from the Public Service Commission.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. —
Duke Energy’s proposal to raise its energy rates by almost 20% in the next two years.
Evelyn Blakley has lived in Spartanburg for more than 20 years.
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She says appreciates the growth she's witnessed, but believes Duke Energy continues to increase its rates because of it.
“They're bringing in all of these massive corporations which is a good thing, you really want to see your city and your county grow and better employment opportunities, but not at the cost of the general consumer,” she says.
Duke's proposal states a typical customer's bill may rise by about $18, with another smaller increase planned in 2026.
As a resident of the Liberty Heights Neighborhood, Evelyn said most people in her community are 55 and older and some are relying on their social security, which for some could be less than $1,000 a month. This leaves them with some heavy decisions to make.
“Am I going to live in a home, am I going to be homeless, am I going to get my medication, am I going to eat," she says.
Duke Energy says the increase is needed to keep up with demand and security, but before they can start raising rates they will need approval from the Public Service Commission.
