If your home in Cary uses natural gas for heating or cooking, you may soon be paying more for it. Enbridge Gas North Carolina, formerly Dominion, has filed a request with the North Carolina Utilities Commission to increase rates across all customer classes.
The proposed rate hike would raise an additional $84.9 million in annual revenue statewide, representing an overall increase of just over 11%. For residential customers, that means your average monthly bill could go up by around 8.7%, depending on usage. For example, a typical winter bill would rise from $129.26 to $139.30.
Who This Impacts in Cary
In Cary, residents are typically served by either Enbridge or Piedmont Natural Gas. If your monthly bill comes from Enbridge (it may also say Dominion on your bill), this rate change would apply to you.
Enbridge serves approximately 667,000 customers across North Carolina. The company says the rate increase is needed to fund infrastructure improvements, recover costs from pipeline safety programs, and invest in major projects like the Moriah liquefied natural gas facility.
What’s Behind the Increase
The request includes several components beyond the base rate change, according to Enbridge, including:
- A continuation of surcharges for pipeline integrity and safety upgrades
- A new tracker to recover costs from the construction of major new pipelines
- A low-income assistance program to help eligible customers with winter heating bills
- Updates to account for changes in state corporate income tax
Importantly, the Utilities Commission has suspended the proposed rates while it investigates the request. New rates, if approved, would go into effect no earlier than November 1, 2025.
Public Hearings and How to Weigh In
Residents can weigh in on the proposed increase in several ways. The Utilities Commission is hosting in-person public hearings across the state. The closest one to Cary is in Raleigh on Monday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. located in 430 N. Salisbury Street Commission, Hearing Room 2115.
There will also well as a remote hearing on Monday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m. via Webex. You must register in advance to testify at the remote hearing, as only the first 20 registrants will be allowed to speak. You can register here.
You can also submit a written comment online or by mail:
- Online: www.ncuc.gov/contactus.html
- By mail: North Carolina Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4300
Be sure to reference Docket No. G-5, Sub 686 in your comments.
What Happens Next
The Utilities Commission will hold a formal evidentiary hearing in Raleigh this fall to hear testimony from Enbridge, the Public Staff (which represents consumers), and other parties. A decision will follow later this year or early next.
You can view the full public notice here.
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