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RALEIGH, N.C. — Duke Energy would be allowed to charge North Carolina customers for power plants that haven’t yet been built, as well as to avoid fast-approaching climate change goals, under the terms of a new bill that passed the state Senate on Thursday.
Supporters say the changes will stop electrical bills from becoming even more expensive. Critics say it will do the exact opposite, potentially leaving North Carolinians paying billions of dollars for power plants that never actually get built.
With the debate fiercely divided and opponents disagreeing on key details of what the bill will do if it becomes law, it passed lagely along party lines with Republicans in favor and Democrats mostly opposed.
“We have an opportunity today to save the people of North Carolina a significant amount of money,” said Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, a former president of Duke Energy’s North Carolina operations, who helped write the bill and has led the charge for it inside the Senate.
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