RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is speaking out against Duke Energy’s updated settlement to lower its proposed rate hike. If the latest settlement is approved, residential rates would go up 9.5 percent over two years. That’s down from the 18 percent increase ori ginally requested. Jackson says that’s still too high. He spoke out in a video on social media, saying in part, “We did our own independent analysis of what Duke will need to meet demand. And we think they overshot the mark. We think they can come down significantly and still meet demand.” Jackson also says large energy users like data centers should bear more of the burden of the cost of new infrastructure. The State Utilities Commission is expected to make a decision on the rate hike by November. ...read more read less