PUBLIC SERVICE N.C. <PSNC> RAISES PAYOUT Public Service Co of North Carolina Inc said its board raised the quarterly dividend to 23 cts per share from 22-1/2 cts previously, as adjusted for a two-for-one stock split that takes effect April 27. The dividend is payable July One to holders of record June 16. The company also said it plans to file soon for an offering of up to one mln new shares, which would give it a total of about 8,850,000 post-split shares.