# Carolinas: what a 50 MW connection costs under Duke Energy Carolinas

URL: https://open-factory.com/power/carolinas/
Data as of: 2026-08-21
Publisher: Open Factory, https://open-factory.com

**What does a 50 MW connection cost in Carolinas?** In Carolinas, Duke Energy Carolinas connects a 50 MW load under Schedule HLF (High Load Factor) large-load provisions proposed in the 2026 rate case; existing contracts with minimum demand and credit support, docket NCUC E-7 Sub 1329 (filed late June 2026; pending). Minimum bill: 75% of contracted demand. Term: 10 or 15 years depending on load size. Realistic energization: 2029 to 2030. Open Factory's Large-Load Cost Table, as of August 21, 2026.

## Facts

- Market: Carolinas, NC/SC (Duke (non-RTO))
- Utility: Duke Energy Carolinas
- Tariff or rule: Schedule HLF (High Load Factor) large-load provisions proposed in the 2026 rate case; existing contracts with minimum demand and credit support
- Docket: NCUC E-7 Sub 1329 (filed late June 2026; pending)
- Status: pending; tariff would start in 2027
- Large-load threshold: 50 MW at 80% load factor or 100 MW at any load factor
- Study fee: not published in sources opened
- Security or collateral: security (cash or letter of credit) covering the minimum bills; existing contracts use credit support and refundable capital advances
- Minimum bill: 75% of contracted demand
- Contract term: 10 or 15 years depending on load size
- Ramp: not published
- Exit fee: 25% of remaining bills
- CIAC exposure: refundable capital advances in existing contracts; Public Staff asked that ~$200M of $247M of proposed grid upgrades be assigned to large loads
- Realistic energization, 50 MW: 2029 to 2030
- Verification: PARTIAL (terms from Latitude Media reporting on the filing; docket documents not opened)
- Data as of: August 21, 2026

## Questions

### What does a 50 MW connection cost in Carolinas?

Duke Energy Carolinas: study fee not published in sources opened; collateral security (cash or letter of credit) covering the minimum bills; existing contracts use credit support and refundable capital advances; minimum bill 75% of contracted demand; term 10 or 15 years depending on load size.

### When can a 50 MW load be energized in Carolinas?

2029 to 2030. Duke has 7.6 GW of executed data center agreements (two-thirds under construction) and 7.8 GW late-stage; 14 GW of new generation by 2031; no market-level JLL figure.

### Which tariff applies to large loads in Carolinas?

Schedule HLF (High Load Factor) large-load provisions proposed in the 2026 rate case; existing contracts with minimum demand and credit support; docket NCUC E-7 Sub 1329 (filed late June 2026; pending); status: pending; tariff would start in 2027.

### Is this rate proposed or approved?

Not yet final: pending; tariff would start in 2027. The table carries the filed terms and the docket to watch.

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## Sources

- [Open Factory Large-Load Cost Table](https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/)
- [latitudemedia.com (2026-07-08)](https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/duke-energys-light-touch-large-load-tariff-could-be-a-problem/)
- [utilitydive.com (2026-05)](https://www.utilitydive.com/news/duke-energy-earnings-anderson-gas-plant/819428/)
- [eta-publications.lbl.gov (Appendix 1)](https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/rate_designs_large_loads_2026.08.10.pdf)

Model: https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/
Calculator: https://open-factory.com/tools/interconnection-cost/