Duke to boost rates as part of carbon study

Customers would see agarage increase of 1 percent Duke Energy is planning to finance at least part of the cost to study a proposed carbon dioxide storage project by increasing its customers' electric rates. Customers would see an average rate increase of 1 percent spread across the three-year period of the study, beginning in 2010, according to the company. The increase would be a rider added on customer bills and could fluctuate, depending on the company's needs, said Angeline Protogere, a company spokeswoman. It would not be an increase of the base rate. Duke is planning to spend $121 million to study permanent underground storage of carbon dioxide from its Edwardsport, Ind., coal-gasification power plant in Knox County. It has filed plans for the project with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. However, a Clean Coal... [read full story]                    

powered by