Rising energy bills are raising questions for some Duke Energy customers.
People contacted WRAL News with concerns about higher-than-average bills and additional charges.
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The spikes come just months after Duke Energy announced that customers would see lower rates in December and January due to falling fuel prices.
The company announced that on Dec. 1, rates began dropping for Duke Energy Progress residential customers, which includes most of Raleigh and counties to the east.
However, some customers said their bills more than doubled in January. Goldsboro Resident Roddie Hoyle said his bill rose to over $1,700.
"I just sat there in shock and just didn't know what to do," Hoyle said.
Hoyle said it was his first Duke Energy bill in his new home, but the previous resident said he should expect a bill no more than $600.
"I've lived in other places. People always complain about the power bill, but my highest bill I've ever had was $600 and that was high," he said.
This time last year, Duke Energy customers had similar concerns regarding high bills and fees.
Duke Energy Spokesperson Caroline Fountain said the cold temperatures are to blame.
"We understand our customers generally experience their highest usage of energy in January, and so we just had a very cold January. Just a couple of weeks ago, we saw 65 hours of freezing or below freezing temperatures in the Carolinas, and we haven't seen that for several years," Fountain said.
Fountain said while gas prices do have an impact, the weather has resulted in more energy usage.
"While our rates have dropped across the Carolinas due to reduced fuel prices, energy usage has been higher," Fountain said.
Fountain said Duke Energy offers payment plans and other resources to offset the cost.
Hoyle said he still doesn't understand how his bill could be that high, especially on his first month in the home.
"In some ways, we were worried about the bill. So we try to keep things off and do certain things to lower it," he said.