In addition, the company filed an application with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) to recover the costs associated with the purchase of this power.
Duke Energy noted that, according to data published by the US Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2007 was the second driest year for the Southeast US region in 113 years, the driest year in North Carolina and the fifth driest for South Carolina.
If approved by the NCUC, customers will pay an additional charge on their power bills for a 12-month period. This monthly amount for an average residential customer using 1,000kWh per month will be about $0.36, adding to a total of $4.32 for the one-year recovery period.
Duke Energy said that if the drought abates, and the special purchased power is not needed by Duke Energy Carolinas customers, it can be sold, and customers will receive 90% of the North Carolina portion of the net revenues of these sales. The utility said that, persistent drought conditions in the region may require additional power purchases to ensure a reliable supply of power for the region.
