Duke Energy's signed large-load agreements rise 200 MW to 7.8 GW

Duke Energy's signed large-load service agreements rose 200 MW from the first quarter of 2026 to 7.8 GW, the company said on its third-quarter earnings call. The remaining 7.6 GW of a 15.4 GW large-load pipeline is not under contract.

Chief executive Harry Sideris said the election result would not change the company's growth focus. "We have a track record of ... working with both sides of the aisle," Sideris said. "We don't see any changes in that focus or any changes in our ability to work with those that were recently elected."

For investors in Duke equity or the private funds that finance the buildout, the pace of signings determines how quickly the remaining 7.6 GW becomes contracted revenue. Duke has secured about one-third of the $10 billion in equity it plans to issue, chief financial officer Brian Savoy said.

Duke's $103 billion plan calls for 4.8 GW of battery storage and more than 10 GW of new gas capacity by 2031, with about 5 GW already under construction in North Carolina and Indiana. Turbines and gas supply for the new projects are under contract, and the company is exploring pairing a 2.8 GW gas project in North Carolina with a liquefied natural gas storage facility.

North Carolina regulators denied Duke's application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a 255 MW gas generating unit, citing its "staggering" cost and uncertain need, as Private Wealth Daily previously reported. Sideris said the company still considers it "a low-cost solution to help the generation need that we have in the state."

Sideris said negotiations for the remaining 7.6 GW are "going very well, but it's taking longer because of the complexities." He said elected officials "share our goal, too, of protecting our customers and making sure these large loads pay for their fair share."