Duke Energy’s long-brewing plan to fold its two Carolina utilities into a single operation just moved from talking point to paperwork. The company has struck a settlement with a coalition of environmental, consumer and business groups that is pitched as a way to deliver near-term customer benefits and jump-start new clean energy programs. The deal has Duke committing to design a Clean Transition Tariff and to rethink how it structures rates so big customers can more easily back zero-carbon projects. The company is still eyeing Jan. 1, 2027 as the merger date, but every major piece of the consolidation still needs the blessing of regulators in North Carolina and South Carolina. Consumer advocates say they will be watching closely to see whether the promised savings are…..