Duke Energy has reached a settlement with Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft to manage the cost of powering new data centers in North Carolina. The North Carolina Public Staff, the state’s consumer advocate, is also a party to the agreement. It aims to protect existing customers from costs tied to major grid upgrades for the energy-intensive facilities.
Under the proposed terms, new customers using 50 megawatts or more must make non-refundable upfront payments for dedicated infrastructure, such as substations. They must also provide security deposits for shared grid improvements and will be placed on a separate rate schedule.
The agreement awaits approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which is expected to decide by mid-November.