For Duke residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours, the storm costs represent a $32.40 increase on monthly bills, according to a commission staff recommendation. But commissioners pointed to other upcoming changes in Duke bills, with the utility saying the net increase in March on a 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential bill will be $22.62.

The storm-related costs would add $31.18 to the monthly bills of such Duke customers — though Duke said last month it expects the customers would see an actual increase of about $21 a month because of decreases in other costs.

Duke Energy Florida on Monday joined Tampa Electric Co. in seeking approval to reduce customer bills in June because of lower-than-expected costs of natural gas.

State regulators Tuesday approved a plan that will trim Florida Power & Light customers’ monthly bills because of lower-than-expected natural gas costs, while Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. said they will seek similar reductions.

Less than a week after Hurricane Ian knocked out power to large swaths of Florida, state regulators Tuesday approved utilities’ long-term plans to try to bolster the electric system.

Florida residents and businesses likely will get hit with higher electric bills in 2023 as utilities continue to struggle with increased costs of natural gas.

A Florida utility has been fined $500,000 and placed on three years’ probation for a 2017 deadly explosion at a coal-fired power plant that killed five workers.

Customers of Tampa Electric Co. and Duke Energy Florida could have to dig a little deeper to pay their electricity bills this fall because of higher-than-expected natural gas costs.

With natural gas costing more than expected, Florida Power & Light customers will see increases in their monthly bills starting in May.