Duke Energy’s request to raise rates was approved Tuesday by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Customers can expect to pay 16% more on their electric bill from July 1 through at least September.
Duke says the temporary rate hike will help offset rising natural gas and coal prices, brought on by the war in Ukraine and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic.
With a hot summer expected for Indiana, consumers may be spending more to stay cool. Duke Energy released a list of tips on how to cut back on energy costs, including closing blinds during the day and waiting until the evening to run heat-producing devices. Duke has also offered alternative payment plans for customers and listed a phone number on its website for those struggling to pay their bills.
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Consumer advocacy group Citizens Action Coalition has called for additional protections from the state, such as a prohibition on late fees, limitation on minimum balance requirements, and elimination of any requirement for disconnected customers to pay the full arrearage amount to reconnect to the grid.
On its website, the Citizens Action Coalition urges public officials to “thoroughly review the reasons for the affordability crisis that Hoosier consumers currently face and discuss meaningful solutions that will lead to affordable monthly bills for all consumers.”
