Duke Energy approves a refund for customers. Here’s how much you’ll save

Duke Energy customers will get a refund on their bills after the utility collected more than needed for storm restoration costs.

The Florida Public Service Commission authorized a $90.5 million refund to customers on Tuesday. That stems from an interim storm restoration charge that the state allowed Duke Energy to charge customers last year for costs from hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.

Residential customers will see the refund in their bills in the form of a lower fuel rate -- from 4.414 cents per kWh to 3.852 cents per kWh.

For example, a customer who used 1,000 kWh in a month at the fuel rate of 4.414 cents/kWh faces a monthly fuel charge of $44.14.

At 3.852 cents/kWh, that monthly fuel charge falls to $38.52.

That’s a savings of $5.62 a month.

Customers are charged a higher fuel rate for any usage over 1,000 kWh a month.

The refund will start with the June billing cycle and run through the September billing cycle.

After that, the fuel rate will go back up to 4.414 cents per kWh.