INDIANAPOLIS (AP): The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public comment on a Duke Energy electrical system improvement plan.

The state agency says it will accept written consumer comments through Feb. 11 on Duke’s proposed $1.8 billion plan for electric transmission and distribution system improvements over the next seven years.

The OUCC says if the state utility commission approves the plan, Duke could seek rate increases every six months to recover costs.

Estimates are that the upgrades would increase Duke’s electrical rates by an average of nearly 1 percent a year from 2018 through 2023.