* Creative solution helps limit impact to customer bills.
* Company continues to offer customer assistance, extended payment plans.
The change would take effect in
Since
Rather than recover the increased fuel costs over a shortened 10-month period in 2022,
By recovering over a longer period, the monthly bill impact to a typical residential customer using 1,000 kWh is reduced by about 1%. A typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will see an increase of
Commercial and industrial customers will see bill impacts ranging from a 4% to 10% increase.
"We want to help our customers who may already be struggling to pay their current energy bills," said
Residential customers will also benefit from the removal of credit card fees for bill payments beginning in 2022.
Manage energy usage, billing
Budget Billing
Duke Energy's Budget Billing option lets customers pay one predictable amount every month to better manage their budget. The amount is periodically reviewed and adjusted. Learn more about Budget Billing here.
Pick Your Due Date
With Pick Your Due Date, customers can choose the date they want their Duke Energy bill to be due each month. Pick Your Due Date can give customers even more control over their energy bills. Learn more.
Track, manage energy usage
Energy use can spike during the winter since heating is one of the biggest energy users in your home. Customers can easily track and adjust their usage when temperatures are highest.
* Smart meters provide customers with daily and hourly usage information to help them better understand their energy use and take steps to save energy and money. Video here.
* Duke Energy customers with smart meters also receive usage alerts through email and/or text halfway through their billing cycle, well before their bill arrives, with their current usage amount and a projection of what their final monthly bill could be.
* Customers can also set budget alerts, so they know when their bill reaches a specific dollar amount of their choosing, allowing them to adjust their usage and help save money on their bill.
Other energy-saving programs, tips and guidance to help you manage higher energy bills that can result from increased energy are available at Duke-Energy.com/Winter.
Assistance programs
Duke Energy is reaching out to customers who are past due through email and/or text with information about utility assistance administered by agencies in their local communities.
LIHEAP
This income-based program allows those earning below certain thresholds to qualify for federal energy bill assistance money through the
Assistance agency funds
Some customers may also qualify for assistance from various government and nonprofit programs for utility bills and other household expenses. 211.org is a free service to help customers find local community agencies that can help meet a wide range of needs, including utility bills, housing, food and other essentials, child and elder care, medical expenses and health counseling. To learn about agencies that serve your area, dial 211, visit 211.org online or text your ZIP code to 898211 for information on where to get help.
In addition,
Installment plans
Installment plans give customers more flexibility to pay a past-due balance over a longer period. Customers can request a few extra days or restructure the past-due balance into a monthly payment plan. Customers should contact Duke Energy to discuss options available to them: 800.700.8744.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities - with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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Cell: 813.928.7263
Media line: 800.559.3853
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