If approved, residential customers in the US state of South Carolina would pay about 17% more on average, while average rate increases for commercial and industrial customers would be 11% and 13%, respectively.
The company said 90% of the rate hike will allow it to recover $6.5bn in investments to modernize its electric system and comply with state and federal emissions regulations.
Duke Energy Carolinas plans to retire 18 units at five coal-fired power plants and 20 units at four gas-fired plants by 2015 as part of an effort to comply with new environmental regulations.
The company filed a similar request in July 2011 with the North Carolina Utilities Commission to increase customer rates by an average of 15%.
