Vulnerable Duke Energy customers are facing a double blow as a little-known pilot program that provided a monthly credit of $42 towards their energy bills is set to expire, coinciding with a proposed 7.5% rate hike. This program, the Duke Energy Customer Assistance (CAP) initiative, has been a lifeline for many low-income households, yet it has remained largely unknown to its beneficiaries. The CAP program, which cost $33 million over its first two years, served approximately 43,000 customers annually, but only provided a modest $600,000 in total assistance. This disparity highlights the inefficiency of the program and the potential for better utilization of resources.
The program's expiration at the end of 2026 has sparked concern among state regulators, who are currently deliberating Duke Energy's rate-hike request for the following year. Commissioner Floyd McKissick Jr. questioned the company during regulatory hearings, suggesting that the utility should consider extending the program to help its most vulnerable customers. Duke Energy's director of vulnerable customer support, Jacob Colley, acknowledged the need for better communication, promising to inform customers about the program's end and the impending rate increase. However, the utility's response has been met with skepticism, especially given its history of profit.
In 2025, Duke Energy earned $4.6 billion in profits across its multi-state territory, yet the company's dividends are proposed to cover the cost of the CAP program, which is a significant burden for ratepayers. The average utility bill for Duke Energy customers is around $156, but many of the program's beneficiaries, like Simone Fisher, have bills that are at least double this amount. Fisher, a driver for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, faces a rate hike that will disproportionately affect her and other low-income households.
The situation raises important questions about the distribution of resources and the responsibility of utility companies to support their most vulnerable customers. It also highlights the need for more transparent and effective assistance programs. As the CAP program expires, there is a pressing need for state regulators to consider alternative solutions that provide long-term relief to vulnerable customers, ensuring that the utility's profits do not come at the expense of those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
