US utility Duke Energy plans to spend $ 1.3bn to restore 20 % of South Carolina 's electricity supply following the destruction caused by hurricane Irma and Matthew . The decade - long project is part of a $ 3bn initiative to upgrade the state 's grid that includes retrofitting infrastructure , installing smart meters and self - optimising 80 % of the grid . The move includes a $ 13bn plan for North Carolina , which carries an estimated cost increase of $ 530 m a year to 2026 to offset costs .
US utility Duke Energy plans to spend $1.3bn to bury 20% of South Carolina's electricity lines following the destruction caused by hurricanes Irma and Matthew. The decade-long project is part of a $3bn initiative to upgrade the state's grid that includes retrofitting transformers, installing smart meters and self-optimising 80% of the grid. The move follows a $13bn plan for North Carolina, which carries an estimated rate increase of $530m a year to 2026 to offset costs.