Major utility company lowers rates in North Carolina ahead of winter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A major utility company will decrease rates in North Carolina this winter for residential, small and medium sized business customers.

Piedmont Natural Gas announced its decreased rates took effect on Sunday, Nov. 1. Customers will start to see lower bills in their November statement.

The utility company said the rate decrease will lower the average residential customer bill by about $12 per year. The latest decrease is Piedmont Natural Gas’ fifth rate drop in 2026. Between all five rate drops, the average bill is about $112 lower.

This change will not apply to wholesale customers, including municipalities that buy natural gas from Piedmont for their city’s neighbors.

“When cold temperatures arrive, reliable heat inside your home isn’t just a convenience; it’s a necessity,” the president of Piedmont Natural Gas said in a Nov. 5 news release.

A spokesperson for Piedmont Natural Gas says the decrease is in part due to the price of natural gas going down.

“We’re able to go in and see what we’re paying for the gas. That’s a one to one. What we pay is what our customers pay. We don’t make any money off of that,” said Jason Wheatley.

“We know winter heating bills matter to our customers, especially at a time when many household costs remain high. That’s why we continue to manage costs while delivering safe, reliable natural gas service our customers depend on. We’re proud to be able to lower our North Carolina rates for the fifth time this year and help make the winter heating season a little easier on customers’ wallets.”

One customer told WBTV that she is looking forward to the change in her bill.

“I think that’s wonderful because a lot of people have a hard time paying their energy bills. The bills have gone up over the years,” said Sally Anne Ellis from Charlotte.

Information about Piedmont Natural Gas payment programs and bill assistance can be found here.

The utility company is a subsidiary of Duke Energy and distributes natural gas to more than a million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in the Carolinas.

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