Duke Energy’s two Carolinas utilities continue to make higher rates of return than allowed by N.C. regulators, according to new figures that track returns through the third quarter of 2014.

It is the second consecutive quarter in which the returns at the Duke (NYSE:DUK) utilities exceeded regulatory targets, according to figures compiled by the Public Staff of the N.C. Utilities Commission. But the returns are dropping closer to the allowed levels.

That could indicate the jump may be only a blip…