Electricity rates will rise 9.9% on December 1 for Duke Energy customers in Asheville, Raleigh and eastern North Carolina because of higher costs for natural gas.
Duke Energy says the increase will drop back to 9.3% January 1, when other rate adjustments take effect.
Overall, the changes will add $11.70 to the monthly bill for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month.
Duke says the new typical monthly bill of just over 138 dollars -would still be lower than last year's national average of $150 a month.
Duke customers in central North Carolina- had a similar 9.5% fuel-related increase on September 1st.
More rate increases are expected next year, when the company hopes to take advantage of a new state law that allows rate plans covering multiple years.
