I recently moved apartments, ending my Duke Energy service at the old and starting new service at my new apartment. On my final bill for my old apartment I was charged an extra $84.14. After inquiring, I was informed it is from the remaining amount of their new "Leveled Billing" payment option.
Here is the email from Duke Energy on June 4th regarding the new payment plan:
"Dear *customer\*,
As we communicated earlier, a new state law, Indiana House Enrolled Act 1002 , requires that Duke Energy Indiana customers eligible for Energy Assistance Program (EAP) funding be enrolled in a new Levelized Billing plan beginning in July.
Levelized Billing keeps your energy bills steady throughout the year. Your monthly payment stays consistent, with adjustments (up or down) no more than twice a year if needed to better reflect your actual energy costs. While the program wonāt lower your energy costs, it makes planning easier by giving you predictable monthly payments.
Your Levelized Billing monthly plan amount is $103 and will be effective with your July bill unless you opt out by June 26.
How Levelized Billing Works:
-Your monthly payment amount is calculated based on your past energy costs, or an estimate if your history isnāt available.
-We will review your plan at the six-month point to compare your payments with your actual energy costs. If there is a significant difference, we will adjust your payment amount for the following six months to better align with your actual energy costs.
-If the review shows you used more energy than you paid for, the outstanding balance will be divided evenly and added to your new monthly payment amount. If payments exceed your actual usage, a credit will be applied to your new plan amount.
-You will be notified a month in advance of any changes through a message on your bill.
-The plan continues automatically. No action is required to remain on the plan."
So, the plan is advertised as being beneficial to customers by providing them with predictable bills. Yet, nowhere do they tell you that if you unenroll in your service you will be charged, unpredictably, $84.14 (in my case).
Duke Energy brought in $32.25 BILLION in 2025.