Report questions Duke Energy’s forecast for North Carolina’s energy demand
A state-commissioned report questions Duke Energy's forecast for North Carolina's future electricity demand, particularly the portion attributed to large users such as data centers. The findings could affect decisions about new power generation, grid infrastructure and customer costs as state leaders consider alternatives to Duke's plan.
North Carolina is evaluating how to meet a projected rise in electricity demand, with data centers and other large users expected to account for about 85% of the increase. Duke Energy has proposed its own strategy for serving that demand, while the governor's Energy Policy Task Force is examining alternatives intended to reduce costs and emissions.
The task force's analysis questions whether Duke's forecast is too high, noting that the utility's projection substantially exceeds demand from projects that have already taken steps to connect to the grid. The difference could determine how much generation and infrastructure the state builds and how those costs are distributed among customers, amid broader concerns about reliability, affordability and environmental impacts.