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Understanding higher energy bills this winter - and how Duke Energy can help
As customers see higher energy bills during the winter months, Duke Energy is addressing common misconceptions about what's driving costs higher and sharing ways customers can better manage energy use, payment options and available assistance.
About this update from Duke Energy Corporation (holding Company)
[{"type":"text","content":"CHARLOTTE, N.C. , March 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As customers see higher energy bills during the winter months, Duke Energy is addressing common misconceptions about what's driving costs higher and sharing ways customers can better manage energy use, payment options and available assistance.","length":305,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Duke Energy logo (PRNewsfoto/Duke Energy)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Duke Energy logo (PRNewsfoto/Duke Energy)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":128,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/829a69c01f1ce34f867ba8075a40a22b"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AZkz2p7IVk.0RFE.fpGQ7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTIyNjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/prnewswire.com/829a69c01f1ce34f867ba8075a40a22b","width":400,"height":128}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660545/Duke_Energy_New_Logo.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"What we are hearing: My bill went up because Duke Energy raised rates.","length":70,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Fact: Prolonged cold weather is a major driver of higher bills.","length":63,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Extended periods of cold temperatures cause heating systems to run longer and more frequently to keep homes comfortable. That increased energy use – not a rate change – is the primary reason many customers are seeing higher bills this winter.","length":252,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"list","items":[{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"While we saw a small increase in rates for both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, that increase only accounts for about $4 for a Duke Energy Carolinas customer using 1,000 kWh of electricity, and less than a dollar for a Duke Energy Progress customer using the same amount. The rate increase itself did not account for a significant increase in bills. Much higher usage was the main driver.","length":404,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"This past winter ranked as one of the most extreme winters across Duke Energy service areas in the past 10 years, including more frequent and longer-lasting cold spells, colder overnight lows and higher heating demand than in the past decade.","length":242,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type"...