Frequently Asked Questions Budget Billing
- Which Budget Billing option is best?
- What is included in the Budget Billing amount?
- How is my monthly payment calculated if I have been a customer for less than a year?
- Who is eligible?
- Will you continue to read my meter?
- Can I discontinue Budget Billing at any time?
- How do I sign up for Budget Billing?
Q: Which Budget Billing option is best?
A: Both Budget Billing options offer your business convenience and flexibility.
- Quarterly Plan
Your monthly bill may change automatically – up or down – every three months based on your actual energy use. Your payment plan will be reviewed every three months. If your variance is greater than 10 percent, your payment will be adjusted automatically. At the end of your Budget Billing year, any credit to your account or balance you owe will be divided by 12 months and automatically rolled into your new monthly bill installment. This way you'll never pay a year-end lump sum balance. - Annual Plan
Your monthly bill will remain the same for 11 months. This plan provides a predictable monthly energy bill making managing your cash flow easy. Your payment plan will be reviewed every six months. If your variance is greater than 30 percent, we will notify you on your monthly bill. You have the choice to call us to adjust your monthly amount based on our recommended adjustment. We settle up during the 12th month. If you used more energy than you paid for, we will bill you the difference. If you paid for more than you used, we will credit your account.
Q: What is included in the Budget Billing Amount?
A: The monthly Budget Billing amount covers all of you basic services. Additional services, such as outdoor lighting, are not included.
Q: How is my monthly payment calculated if I have been a customer for less than a year?
A: If you are a new customer, or have recently moved your business to a new location, we will estimate your energy use. We will notify you of the estimate before placing you on Budget Billing for Business.
A: Budget Billing is only available to business customers with average monthly Duke Energy bills of $3,100 or less.
It is available to customers who have provided Duke Energy access to read their gas and/or electric meters within the past 60 days, and whose account is paid current.
Unfortunately, un-metered service accounts and non-residential customers with an average monthly bill amount of over $3,100 are not eligible. Customers with two or more consecutive estimated bills within the past two months are also not eligible.
Where there is more than a 12-month billing history, the Budget Bill installment amounts are calculated based on actual account history. If there is less than 12 months of history, the installment amounts are calculated based on generic information (i.e., size of building, type of business, heat source, age of building, etc.).
Q: Will you continue to read my meter?
A: Yes. We will read your meter each month. Your bill will show your actual usage and charges for each billing period so that you will know where you stand every month.
Q: Can I discontinue Budget Billing at any time?
A: Yes. You may discontinue Budget Billing any time.
Q: How do I sign up for Budget Billing?
A: Registered users of Duke Energy Online Services should:
- Log in to Duke Energy Online Services.
- Click on "Budget Billing Program" on the left-hand navigational bar.
- Follow the prompts to sign up.
If you're not a registered user of Duke Energy Online Services, follow these simple steps:
- Register to create a User Profile.
- Once registered, click on "Budget Billing Program" on the left-hand navigational bar.
- Follow the prompts to sign up.
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