5 On Your Side warns: Read that bill before you pay

For many, when the power bill arrives each month -- it's automatically paid.

That’s what Peter McCubbin did until he got a call from a Duke Energy representative telling him he was already enrolled in their home wiring repair service.

"I’m like, 'Wow, this is news,'" said McCubbin. "So I got my bill out, and she was right. There it was. It’s a line item hiding on my bill, and they’re charging me $10.99 a month."

He’s been charged a total of $318.71 since March 2019.

"I didn’t order it. I don’t want it," he said, adding that he asked the representative to remove him from it.

Twice, McCubbin was told a manager would call him. When that didn't happen, he emailed 5 On Your Side’s Monica Laliberte.

Duke Energy explains recent spike in utility bills

"Who else may have this nonsense hiding on their bill?" he wondered

Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks said the company was unable to verify who initiated the program sign up, so they canceled the enrollment and refunded McCubbin.

McCubbin said he was grateful to get back the $318.

Brooks said that out of the almost 130,000 customers enrolled in the program this year, they've had fewer than a dozen complaints.

It’s a good reminder to check your bills to make sure they’re accurate.