Duke Energy Carolinas files request to raise electric rates 15.1%

Duke Energy Carolinas filed a request with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina to increase electric rates by about $220M, for an overall increase of 15.1%. More than half of the request is driven by capital investments that Duke Energy Carolinas has made in the electric system, the company said. The company's request proposes an allowed return on common equity, or ROE of 11.25% with a 53 percent common equity component; the current allowed ROE in South Carolina is 10.5%. The South Carolina retail rate base is expected to be approximately $4.3B through the date of the hearings, the company noted.