Rep. Zack Hawkin’s Statement

Rep. Zack Hawkins, 10/2025

Durham, NC — I have made the decision not to accept campaign contributions or gifts from Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Enbridge, or their affiliates, including Political Action Committees (PACs), lobbyists, and executives. I believe that my responsibility is to put ratepayers first, and the best way to do that is to remain fully independent in advocating for more affordable and sustainable energy solutions.

In Durham, families are feeling the strain of rising energy prices, especially as climate change and fuel market fluctuations drive up costs. One Duke Energy customer shared with me, “Since climate change is making the winters colder and the summers hotter, I imagine the bills will not stop increasing over the years. Since we had such a hot July, the electricity bill was $151 for that month.”

This year, Durham experienced record-breaking temperatures, and experts warn that the years ahead are likely to bring even more extremes. These shifts not only put stress on household budgets but also on our power grid, increasing the risk of outages and higher bills.

That’s why I co-sponsored the Fair Competition Act (HB 745), the North Carolina Consumer Protection Act (HB 922), and Clean Energy Grants (HB 792) during the 2025 legislative session. My goal is to make North Carolina’s energy systems more affordable, reliable, and sustainable — so that they work for people that are struggling to get by and not just corporations. I believe in A Better North Carolina, so I’m willing to have the conversation about a path forward, but it must be truly bipartisan.