Duke Energy Florida has announced that the storm cost recovery charge, which was added to customer bills following the company’s $1.1 billion response to hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, will be removed a month earlier than planned.
Starting in February, residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per month can expect their bills to drop by about $33 compared to January. In March, another reduction of approximately $11 per 1,000 kWh is scheduled due to Duke Energy Florida’s annual seasonal decrease. This means that by March, residential customers’ monthly bills will be around $44 lower than they were in January.
Commercial and industrial customers will also see their monthly bills reduced between 9.6% and 15.8%, with the exact amount depending on several factors.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, said: “We understand all of our customers have been affected by the rising costs of living, many may be facing financial challenges, and some are even having to decide which bills they can afford to pay every month. It was important to us that our customers get this significant rate relief as soon as possible while we continue to deliver the safe, reliable power they expect and deserve.”
In addition to these changes, Duke Energy Florida recently made efficiency improvements at several natural gas plants. These upgrades have saved customers $340 million in fuel costs and translated into a further $10 monthly savings for each customer. The company has also completed three new solar energy sites which have displaced fuel costs by an additional $750 million.
Duke Energy Florida passed on $65 million in Inflation Reduction Act tax credits directly to its customers. For residential users consuming 1,000 kWh per month, this results in at least a $2.50 saving on their monthly bill.
The company says it remains committed to helping customers manage their energy use and costs through flexible payment plans and practical energy-saving resources available at duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.
Duke Energy Florida serves two million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida with an energy capacity of 12,300 megawatts. Its parent company Duke Energy operates electric utilities serving over eight million customers across six states.
For more information about ongoing initiatives or assistance programs from Duke Energy Florida visit duke-energy.com or contact Aly Raschid at 800-559-3853.
