Duke Energy to Issue $1.7 Million in Credits

Duke Energy customers who have seen higher-than-average charges on their bills might get a little back for their troubles.

The company has announced it will pay out $1.7 million in credits to those who were overcharged as a result of recent meter-reading route changes, Bay News 9 reported. An estimated 165,000 Florida customers were impacted by higher bills as the meter reading changes went into effect.

Duke Energy announced in late August it would issue the credits after elected officials cried foul over the fact customers would have to pay a higher rate for energy usage that would have otherwise cost them less under a normal billing cycle.

State Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, accused Duke of “squeezing” extra cash from its customers.

The kerfuffle started when Duke began streamlining its meter-reading routes and announced it was creating a longer billing cycle on a one-time basis for some customers. In some cases, the cycle was 12 days longer.

The problem with Duke’s plan, Latvala said, was that customers who saw additional days on their bill would also quite likely see higher per-kilowatt-hour electric costs. The utility charges $11.34 per 100 kilowatt hours for the first 1,000 kilowatt hours used. That rate goes up to $13.70 for each additional 100 kilowatt hours over 1,000.

As pressure mounted, the Florida Public Service Commission stepped in, asking Duke to explain itself. The decision to issue the credits was announced Aug. 27, along with an apology from Duke Energy to its customers.

Have you seen your Duke Energy bills rise since the route changes began in May? Tell us about your experience by commenting below.

See Also:

• Duke Energy Says it Will Issue Credits
• Duke Energy is Putting the ‘Squeeze’ on Customers Senator Says
• Duke Energy Has to Answer for Rate Charges