Under the agreement with the North Carolina Public Staff, facilities serving a single client—such as dedicated substations—now require nonrefundable, upfront payments. The proposal also establishes mandatory security deposits for broader grid upgrades, ensuring that general utility ratepayers are not saddled with the financial burden of rapid industrial expansion.

New high-consumption customers, defined as those requiring at least 50 megawatts, will be placed under a specific "High Load Factor" rate schedule. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress will implement these requirements pending a final decision from the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which is expected to rule on the settlement next month. Corporate participants in the agreement include the U.S. Defense Department, the Carolina Industrial Group for Fair Utility Rates, and the major tech firms driving the surge in power demand.