A petition is circulating online demanding that Duke Energy’s billing system be audited. More than 33,000 North Carolina and South Carolina residents have signed the petition asking for an independent review of the system to determine any overcharges on bills and call for the company to issue refunds, if that is the case. With the cost of living going up, Duke Energy’s recent bill increases have made it harder for families to afford basic expenses.
“Unexpected and unexplainable increases in Duke Energy bills have become a major concern for many families in NC & SC, when bills rise without reasonable justification or transparency, it impacts our ability to plan and manage our household finances effectively,” the petition states.
Duke Energy is also in the process of asking state regulators to approve new rate increases in North Carolina after earning nearly five billion dollars in revenue in 2025. The company is asking to raise residential rates in January 2027 and January 2028, increasing rates by 16% for Duke Energy consumers. The North Carolina Utilities Commission is holding public hearings starting March 30 before it decides on the rate hikes later this year.
Duke Energy states that the reason for the bill increase is seasonal weather and that electric rates are tightly regulated by the state. However, consumers are still feeling the harmful effects of high electric bills, and research has shown that Duke Energy’s sentiments are not a reflection of the viewpoint of the consumer.
The Energy and Policy Institute has recently launched a Utility Profit Tracker, an online calculator that shows how much of a consumer’s electricity bill goes towards utility profits.
“Households and businesses served by investor-owned utilities pay billions of dollars in profits to utility investors each year. Until now, no one has put a precise number on how much of an electric bill is made up of that profit,” the release states.
For example, for a $100 electric bill with Duke Energy Carolinas, the calculator shows the subsidiary of Duke Energy would take $21.70 in profit.
The audit of Duke Energy would ensure that all consumers are in the know about where their money is going and if they are being charged fairly.
To view the tracker, check it out here: Energy & Policy Institute Utility Profit Tracker.
