Jackson Requested Separate Data Center Rate Class

North Carolina's attorney general moved to shield residents from costs associated with rising data center energy demand.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Data Centers

Jackson Requested Separate Data Center Rate Class

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Should data centers pay higher utility rates to prevent cost increases for local households?

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed a request with the state Utilities Commission to create a distinct rate class for data centers using Duke Energy. The proposal aims to ensure that these facilities cover their own infrastructure and energy costs.

Why it matters

The initiative seeks to prevent significant infrastructure costs driven by the tech sector from falling onto residential Duke Energy customers. It aligns with efforts to manage energy demand as data centers continue to expand across the state.

Duke Energy projects that data centers and large energy users will constitute more than 80% of all new energy demand. The request asks the commission to mandate that these specific users generate and pay for their own clean power sources.

The players

Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson serves as the Attorney General of North Carolina.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy is a major electric power utility provider serving customers across North Carolina.

Josh Stein

Josh Stein is the Governor of North Carolina who has challenged utilities to adopt ratepayer protections.

North Carolina Utilities Commission

The North Carolina Utilities Commission is the state body responsible for regulating the rates and services of public utilities.

The details

The filing requires that high-demand facilities provide their own energy supply, separating them from the residential pool. This policy mirrors the Ratepayer Protection Pledge advocated by Governor Josh Stein, which challenges utilities to ensure large users fund their own operational needs.

In July 2026, officials challenged Duke Energy to sign a Ratepayer Protection Pledge.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed the regulatory request on October 7, 2026.

The Tech Race

This move extends the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to address the rapid scaling of digital infrastructure. It marks a shift from general utility pricing models toward specialized cost allocation for the tech sector.

The proposal aims to keep residential utility bills stable by shifting the infrastructure costs of high-energy data centers onto the companies themselves. This could prevent future rate hikes for households that would otherwise subsidize the growth of tech facilities.

The takeaway

North Carolina is attempting to insulate the public from the financial burden of massive corporate energy consumption. Residents should monitor how the Utilities Commission handles this request to understand potential long-term impacts on their monthly utility costs.