North Carolina Approves Duke Energy Data Access Plan to Empower Consumers and Support Decarbonization

North Carolina has approved a new initiative allowing Duke Energy customers to access detailed hourly energy consumption data, a change long advocated by clean energy supporters. This development aims to facilitate decarbonization efforts across various levels, from individual households to entire cities, by providing more granular energy usage information. The updated plan also permits authorized third-party service providers—including companies specializing in energy benchmarking and smart home devices—to request customer data, contingent upon customer consent. However, the specifics of data fees are yet to be determined, which could pose affordability challenges for smaller municipalities, startups, and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, stringent cybersecurity standards might limit participation from smaller developers and software providers.