The Brief
- Duke Energy mistakenly billed a Largo resident for nearly five years after crossing meter numbers with a large Treasure Island property.
- The homeowner spent up to $15,000 replacing functioning appliances trying to solve the high bills before receiving a refund of nearly $10,000.
- Utility officials acknowledged the clerical swap and issued a reimbursement following an on-site technician inspection.
LARGO, Fla. – A Largo homeowner spent nearly five years paying exorbitant power bills after Duke Energy linked her billing account to a luxury Treasure Island home by mistake.
Shocking August utility charges
The backstory:
Janice Doll spent 57 months trying to rein in electric charges that regularly climbed into hundreds of dollars each month for her 1,500-square-foot house. Duke Energy representatives told her the meter functioned properly and insisted the issue originated inside her house.
Desperate for relief, the retiree spent an estimated $12,000 to $15,000 replacing functional appliances. Her purchases included a new air conditioning unit, pool pump, washer, dryer, microwave and garage refrigerator. …