Internal consolidation of Duke’s two utilities begins in 2027; future rate alignment will be set by state regulators
Columbus County residents served by Duke Energy Progress will be included in the company’s newly announced plan to merge its two North Carolina utilities, but officials say customers will not see immediate changes to their monthly bills.
Duke Energy confirmed this month that it will consolidate Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas into a single statewide utility beginning January 1, 2027. The move is not a sale or outside acquisition, but an internal restructuring of two divisions that already operate under the Duke umbrella.
For customers in Whiteville, Tabor City, Chadbourn, Fair Bluff, Lake Waccamaw, and surrounding communities, the most noticeable impacts will come later. Duke Energy Progress customers currently pay slightly higher rates than those in the Duke Energy Carolinas territory. Once the merger takes effect, the North Carolina Utilities Commission will determine how and when the two rate structures are brought together.
Duke officials emphasized that retail rates will not change before 2027 as a direct result of the merger. Any future adjustments will require full regulatory review, public hearings, and formal approval from the Utilities Commission.
The merger also does not halt previously filed rate cases. Duke is already pursuing increases of roughly 15 to 18 percent statewide over the next two years, citing rising fuel costs, grid modernization, and infrastructure upgrades. Those increases will affect Columbus County regardless of the merger’s timeline.
Company leaders say the consolidation could generate between $1 billion and $3.2 billion in long‑term savings by reducing duplicate systems and streamlining operations. Consumer advocates remain skeptical, arguing that customers have continued to face rising bills despite similar efficiency claims in past filings.
For now, Duke customers in Columbus County will continue under the existing Duke Energy Progress structure. Any future changes to billing, rate alignment, or service classifications will be determined through the state’s regulatory process, which Duke says will have “100 percent control” over how quickly the transition occurs.
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