Duke Energy bill spikes hit customers with unfamiliar charges and confusion

Rising energy bills are causing concern for Duke Energy customers. Social media is buzzing with complaints about "huge" increases and unfamiliar charges appearing on bills.

Some report doubling their energy costs, while others express frustration with mysterious "rider" fees.

Retiree Susan Cohen is one of them.

"It's going up. It's $150. this time when I get the bill, I'm afraid to look," Susan Cohen, retiree, said.

Duke Energy says a rate increase went into effect in January and there was an adjustment to the fuel surcharge. That should total around 12 to 15 dollars a month for a customer using 1000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

As for those riders, Duke Energy's Jeff Brooks says the fees aren't new.

"Previously, those costs were all combined into the usage charge that you paid every month," Jeff Brooks, Duke Energy, said. "What we wanted to do is make that bill a little more transparent, a little more clear as to the different things that make up your total bill cost. "

Most of the riders are usage-based, so you will see higher rider fees if you have a higher bill.

Brooks says weather is the main driver behind these increases.

"December, January, and February are typically some of our highest bill months because we are increasingly becoming a winter peaking utility, meaning we tend to see our highest usage of our highest bills in the winter," Brooks said.

Cohen says she keeps her thermostat at 70. 72 if it's really cold. She isn't taking as many hot showers or even cooking as much.

"I know they said they were going raise it in a matter of years a little bit, but the little bit seems like a lot, especially for retired people," Cohen said.

Duke will read your meter if your bill still doesn't seem right.

There are also programs to help lower-income customers.