Greater Cincinnati customers surprised by higher Duke Energy bills this month
Many Greater Cincinnati residents say opening their latest energy bill came with sticker shock.WLWT News 5 heard from customers across the Tri-State who reported significant increases compared to last month, with some seeing bills rise by 30% or more.“I didn’t increase my usage, and the bill just skyrocketed,” Anderson Township resident Vanny Mwamba said. “I’m wondering what is really going on.”University of Cincinnati student Garrett McCarthy said his bill jumped dramatically in just one billing cycle.“The first month was about $120,” McCarthy said. “Then this month it doubled by about 57%.”For others, the increase is forcing difficult financial decisions.“You almost have to decide, am I going to get good groceries this week or am I going to eat ramen because I’ve got to pay my electric bill?” said Duke Thomas.According to Duke Energy spokesperson Matt Martin, colder winter weather is the primary reason many customers are seeing higher bills.“The impacts from the snowstorm and the freezing temperatures that followed have been the main driver,” Martin said.Martin said energy bills are influenced by two main factors: how much energy customers use and the cost of supplying that energy.In Ohio’s deregulated energy market, utilities purchase electricity on the wholesale market and pass those costs directly to customers.“We purchase energy off the wholesale market and pass those costs along to customers. They pay what we pay,” Martin said, adding that recent changes in wholesale market prices may also be affecting bills.WLWT compared average temperatures during this year’s February billing cycle with the same period last year using data from the National Weather Service and found this year’s billing period was about 16% colder overall.Duke Energy says extended stretches of freezing temperatures can cause heating systems to run longer, increasing overall energy usage even when average temperatures appear similar.Martin said customers can take several steps to reduce future bills, including lowering thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature, using ceiling fans to circulate warm air, opening blinds during sunny days to help warm rooms naturally and setting water heaters to about 120 degrees.Customers who are struggling to pay their bills may also qualify for assistance programs. Duke Energy says payment plans, budget billing options and financial help through local nonprofit partners may be available for income-qualified households.More information about assistance programs and energy-saving tips can be found here.
Many Greater Cincinnati residents say opening their latest energy bill came with sticker shock.
WLWT News 5 heard from customers across the Tri-State who reported significant increases compared to last month, with some seeing bills rise by 30% or more.
“I didn’t increase my usage, and the bill just skyrocketed,” Anderson Township resident Vanny Mwamba said. “I’m wondering what is really going on.”
University of Cincinnati student Garrett McCarthy said his bill jumped dramatically in just one billing cycle.
“The first month was about $120,” McCarthy said. “Then this month it doubled by about 57%.”
For others, the increase is forcing difficult financial decisions.
“You almost have to decide, am I going to get good groceries this week or am I going to eat ramen because I’ve got to pay my electric bill?” said Duke Thomas.
According to Duke Energy spokesperson Matt Martin, colder winter weather is the primary reason many customers are seeing higher bills.
“The impacts from the snowstorm and the freezing temperatures that followed have been the main driver,” Martin said.
Martin said energy bills are influenced by two main factors: how much energy customers use and the cost of supplying that energy.
In Ohio’s deregulated energy market, utilities purchase electricity on the wholesale market and pass those costs directly to customers.
“We purchase energy off the wholesale market and pass those costs along to customers. They pay what we pay,” Martin said, adding that recent changes in wholesale market prices may also be affecting bills.
WLWT compared average temperatures during this year’s February billing cycle with the same period last year using data from the National Weather Service and found this year’s billing period was about 16% colder overall.
Duke Energy says extended stretches of freezing temperatures can cause heating systems to run longer, increasing overall energy usage even when average temperatures appear similar.
Martin said customers can take several steps to reduce future bills, including lowering thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature, using ceiling fans to circulate warm air, opening blinds during sunny days to help warm rooms naturally and setting water heaters to about 120 degrees.
Customers who are struggling to pay their bills may also qualify for assistance programs. Duke Energy says payment plans, budget billing options and financial help through local nonprofit partners may be available for income-qualified households.
More information about assistance programs and energy-saving tips can be found here.