As of December 2, 2025, North Carolina’s state Energy Policy Task Force met to examine how rapid load growth from data centers and new industries could strain the grid, as rising power bills have become a cause for concern. [1] Governor Josh Stein, who formed the task force, opposed Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike of 15% over the next two years. [2] The task force meeting focused on how other states are responding to the data center boom now affecting North Carolina. [3] Luke Wilson, executive director of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, stated that his state expects peak demand to rise by 60% by the 2030s, mainly driven by data centers. Indiana’s new rules require large load users to cover most of the cost of the new generation built to serve them. Virginia State Corporation Commission member Kelsey Baggett stated that Virginia has seen hundreds of data center projects queue up for grid access, prompting regulators to create a separate electric rate class so big-tech users pay their share. Under North Carolina’s current structure, residential customers shoulder a greater share of the cost while large commercial customers pay less. The task force is expected to deliver recommendations in February on this issue.
[2] https://www.duke-energy.com/home/billing/dec-nc-rate-case
[3] https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S266v0.pdf