The deal: Duke’s large-load tariff would require customers with demand over 50 MW to 1) pay for needed infrastructure upgrades 2) cover >75% of their projected power demand each month and 3) cough up multimillion dollar fines for ending contracts early.
The context: For two months, the utility has spearheaded tariff negotiations with various stakeholders, including tech titans, NC consumer advocates, and environmental and clean energy groups.
Who signed on: Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Google, a manufacturing industry group, and the US Defense Department.
Who walked away: Green groups, who wanted to push data centers to BYO clean energy—a measure proposed during the negotiations process.
What’s next: Now, the tariff heads to the NC Utilities Commission (which is expected to act by mid-November).
Fri, Oct 9
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
NEWS: Duke has landed a deal to protect North Carolina ratepayers from data center cost-shifting.
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