Greater Cincinnati residents opened their latest Duke Energy bills this month and, for many, it was pure sticker shock. Customers across the tri-state reported spikes of 30% or more, and a University of Cincinnati student told reporters his bill jumped roughly 57% in a single cycle. The sudden increases have left renters, students and fixed-income households scrambling to understand how their winter heating costs soared so fast.
As reported by WLWT, Duke Energy told reporters the primary driver was colder weather after a late snowstorm and weeks of freezing temperatures. “The impacts from the snowstorm and the freezing temperatures that followed have been the main driver,” company spokesperson Matt Martin said, and the utility added that recent changes in wholesale market prices are passed through to customers.
Other local outlets have found the same pattern across the region. FOX19 collected accounts of businesses and households seeing monthly charges soar, while WCPO reported families whose heating bills doubled or even tripled after several weeks of below-average temperatures. Neighbors on social feeds are trading screenshots, commiserating and swapping troubleshooting tips as people hunt for explanations.
How Wholesale Markets And That Winter Storm Fed Retail Bills
Commodity markets tightened during January’s cold spells, and federal data show natural gas prices surged as suppliers recorded historic withdrawals from storage. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that shift prompted it to raise near-term gas price forecasts. EIA’s February outlook and industry notes show spot gas and prompt-month prices spiked during the storm, which pushes wholesale electricity costs higher for utilities that purchase on the market.
Steps To Cut Future Bills And Where To Get Help
Duke Energy and local reporters say customers can try to blunt future increases by lowering thermostats a few degrees, using ceiling fans to circulate heat, opening sunny blinds during the daytime and setting water heaters to about 120°F. As WLWT notes, Duke also offers budget billing, installment plans and referrals to local nonprofit partners for financial help, and the company outlines similar options on its Ohio resources page. Duke Energy recommends customers check online accounts and call customer service if they see unexpected charges.
Regulatory Fights And Company Finances Add Context
Local reporting has also flagged an Ohio rate dispute that could put extra pressure on bills, with Hoodline detailing a roughly $14 million calculation error Duke is asking to recover through customer rates, a fight now playing out at the state level. State coverage noting Duke Energy’s recent multibillion-dollar net income provides a wider backdrop to the sticker shock many households are feeling this month, and WRAL reported the company’s latest financials and pending rate requests…