Update: Duke held a technical conference this week to explain various features contained in its fourth Electric Security Plan (ESP) application.  Duke explained that during the six year term of its proposed ESP, Duke will continue to procure electric supply for non-shopping customers through the current auction process and proposed several new riders.  The newly proposed riders include: an Electric Service Reliability Rider (Rider ESSR) to recover vegetation management costs; a PowerForward Rider (Rider PF) to recover grid modernization costs; an Incentive Ratemaking Mechanism (Rider IMR) to flow through over/under collection of Duke’s earnings; and a Regulatory Mandates Rider (Rider RMR) to recover regulatory compliance costs.  Rider RMR was also requested in Duke’s pending distribution rate case.  The hearing is scheduled to begin in mid-November.