Duke Energy said September 24 that the U.S. Department of Energy had selected it to receive $50 million for transmission improvements in Greenville and Spartanburg counties in South Carolina and Henderson and Polk counties in North Carolina. The proposed cooperative agreement is intended to support grid-enhancing technologies, including advanced conductors and dynamic line ratings, that increase the capacity of existing lines.

The company said the project would include about $151 million in Duke investment, bringing the planned infrastructure work to more than $200 million. It described the federal funding as intended to offset a portion of projected costs and reduce the amount ultimately funded by customers. The award remains subject to finalization of negotiations with DOE; the announcement does not describe cash already received.