Duke Merger Settlement Agreement Reached in South Carolina - CleanTechnica

A settlement agreement has been reached between Duke Energy and groups including the Sierra Club regarding Duke’s proposed merger of its South Carolina subsidiaries. A key element of the settlement is Duke Energy’s commitment to pursue at least 70 megawatts of new winter grid flexibility through demand response programs. The agreement also includes provisions to ensure accurate tracking of merger-related cost savings for customers over the next 14 years, with Duke’s shareholders responsible for covering any shortfall in the promised savings. This settlement follows a similar agreement reached earlier in North Carolina, paving the way for regulatory approval in both states. The Sierra Club emphasized its focus on consumer protections and affordability for South Carolina families and small businesses, advocating for investments in alternatives to costly and polluting energy resources. The group supports the Public Service Commission’s docket on large load tariffs, which could provide protections for residential and traditional business customers by ensuring that new data center energy costs are borne by tech companies rather than families. The Sierra Club’s involvement reflects its broader mission to promote