Nearly 50,000 Customers Call for Duke Energy Audit After Winter Bills Spike

Tens of thousands of Duke Energy customers are demanding answers after a surge in winter heating bills, prompting calls for an official audit of the utility company.

Nearly 50,000 customers have signed a petition requesting an investigation into Duke Energy following a record-cold winter that led to significantly higher energy usage and rising monthly bills. Many customers across the region say their heating costs climbed far beyond what they expected, sparking frustration and concern.

The increase comes after prolonged periods of below-average temperatures, which forced households to use more electricity to stay warm. Duke Energy has stated that higher bills are largely tied to increased energy consumption during the colder weather, along with fluctuating fuel costs.

However, some customers and advocacy groups are questioning whether those factors alone explain the spike, calling for greater transparency and an independent audit to review billing practices and rate structures.

Energy experts note that extreme weather can drive up demand and costs, but large increases in bills often lead to closer scrutiny from both customers and regulators.

At this time, it remains unclear whether state regulators will move forward with a formal audit, but the growing number of petition signatures highlights widespread concern among customers still feeling the financial impact of winter.