INDIANAPOLIS — More than 4,000 comments were submitted to the state about Duke's pending rate case. Comments are part of the public case record and were filed as evidence on July 11 and Aug. 27.
WTHR told you about your chance to speak up back in June, and it sounds like many took advantage of the opportunity.
Four thousand comments are a lot of feedback compared to many cases.
That is according to a spokesperson for the group that collects these comments — The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor.
Individual households, businesses, politicians, cities, etc. can all file a public comment.
"Duke has enjoyed huge profits in the last few years. They don't need anymore money," said one person.
Another comment from state senators and representatives said the proposal "is designed to maximize shareholder profits while positioning our communities to experience needless hardship."
Congresswoman Erin Houchin also "expressed opposition in the rate case."
Duke estimates customers using 1,000 kWh could see their bill go up $27.63 a month over two steps:
- Step 1: An increase of $20.43, which is currently estimated to happen in March 2025
- Step 2 would be an additional $7.20 beginning in March 2026.
The Citizens Action Coalition, a consumer nonprofit, disagrees with the estimate.
The CAC believes it will be closer to $42 a month increase when you include the variable costs — called trackers.
Duke's prediction excludes trackers, since those are separate charges that can go up or down.
Right now, hearings are taking place, and a final decision is due in early 2025.
A Duke Energy spokesperson sent the following statement:
"Requesting an increase in rates is nothing we take lightly. Duke Energy currently has the lowest average residential rates in the state, and we have kept our daily operating expenses flat since 2020 while we make long-term investments to serve customers. Our request centers on the $1.6 billion in improvements we’ve made in a modernized electric grid to reduce power outages, hundreds of miles of new power lines, environmental responsibilities, investments in reliability at our power plants, and increased electric grid security in the wake of attacks nationally.
Indiana’s major electric utilities are regulated, and the rates they charge can only be changed after approval from state utility regulators who carefully weigh the input they receive. There’s no immediate impact from the request, which will be decided next year. There are extensive public proceedings, including opportunities for customer input, and we respect that process and the comments that have been made."