Walmart challenges Duke Energy deal with tech giants over electricity rates
Walmart asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to allow additional comments on a Duke Energy settlement with major technology companies concerning electricity rates and service rules for large power users, including data centers. Walmart says businesses excluded from the negotiations should have an opportunity to review and challenge the proposed large-load tariff provisions.
Walmart has asked the North Carolina Utilities Commission to reopen the comment period on a settlement submitted by Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The agreement was negotiated with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, industrial electricity customers and government participants as regulators consider rates and service requirements for customers with exceptionally large electricity demands, including data centers.
Walmart says it was unaware of the negotiations and argues that approving the agreement without further input could deny excluded businesses and organizations due process. The retailer is seeking 10 days for supplemental comments, while several customer and clean-energy groups support its request. The commission's Public Staff and Harris Teeter do not object, while Microsoft would accept another comment period subject to signatories being allowed to respond; Duke Energy, Google and the state attorney general took no position on the request.