Seasonal High Bills

Unfortunately, many of our customers are currently experiencing higher than normal energy bills. This is due in large part to a dramatic increase in the cost of fuel we use to generate power, as well as the power we purchase in the energy markets. These are not permanent rate increases, and Duke Energy does not profit from higher fuel costs. Customers pay what we pay.

Hotter summer temperatures can also contribute to higher bills as your HVAC system has to work harder to keep your home comfortable. For savings, keep your thermostat at the highest comfortable setting. The higher the setting, the lower your cooling energy bills will be. (Please refer to the energy saving tips and tools on this page for many other ways to help manage your energy usage and bring down your energy bills.)

Account adjustments can also affect the total amount due on your energy bill. Check for adjustments, such as a past-due amount, a transferred debt, a deposit charge or a returned-check fee.

Finally, check the number of days in the billing cycle. Most bills are for 30 days, but there are times when the billing cycle is shorter or longer. If there are more days in the billing cycle, your bill will be higher.

Use our website or our Duke Energy app to track your energy usage by the week, day and hour. That way you can see when your energy usage is spiking and adjust habits that may be driving it up. Simply sign into your online account or create one here.

You can also take advantage of our Usage Alerts. We send Usage Alerts to give you a heads up on your energy usage midway through your billing cycle so you can take steps to help lower your usage before your bill comes.

Air Conditioner: In summer, set your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. Consider setting the thermostat at 80 degrees while you are away. The higher the setting, the lower your cooling energy bills will be.

Electric water heater: Set your water heater to around 120 degrees to save 6% to 10% on energy costs. Install low-flow fixtures for water savings of 25% to 60%.

Refrigerator and freezer: Your refrigerator should be 35 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The freezer should be 4 to 5 degrees if it is part of a fridge/freezer unit. For a separate freezer, use a setting of 0.

Dryer: Dry your laundry at night or during cooler times of day to save energy. Dry on lower heat for even more savings and use the moisture sensor on your machine.

Oven: Grill outside instead of using your oven to use less energy and help keep the heat out of your home. Small electric pans, toaster ovens and convection ovens use one-third to one-half as much energy as a full-sized oven.

• Check out our Energy Vampire Calculator to see how much you could save by unplugging products not in use.
• Get additional summer saving tips that you may not have thought of yet.
• Choose from a comprehensive list of programs and services designed to help you save money, better manage your energy usage, find the billing and payment options that work best for you, and much more—visit our Lower My Bill Toolkit.
• Make your home more energy efficient with these easy step-by-step DIY quick-fix projects.
• Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver website for a wealth of energy saving ideas.