Duke Energy dedicates an additional $200,000 in energy bill assistance to its Indiana customers in need

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy has committed an additional $200,000 to assist Indiana customers struggling with energy bills, allowing qualifying households to receive up to $300 annually. This assistance is part of the Share the Light Fund, which has already aided nearly 1,700 households with over $378,000 in support this year. The company encourages customers to apply for the Indiana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which opened on Oct. 3. Various tools, such as Budget Billing and installment plans, are available to help manage costs.

Positive

• Duke Energy allocated an additional $200,000 for Indiana energy bill assistance.
• Year-to-date, $378,000 has been distributed to support nearly 1,700 households.
• Encouragement for customers to apply for LIHEAP to alleviate energy costs.

Negative

• Rising costs of natural gas and heating oil may lead to an increase in families needing assistance.

• Qualifying customers can receive up to $300 annually toward their energy bill
• Customers struggling to pay bills encouraged to apply for Indiana LIHEAP assistance

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is dedicating an additional $200,000 in financial assistance to its Indiana customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills. Qualifying Duke Energy customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually.

Year-to-date, Duke Energy has aided nearly 1,700 Indiana households with more than $378,000 in energy bill assistance through its Share the Light Fund.

Duke Energy works in partnership with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute assistance funds. Customers should contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible. A list of Indiana community action agencies by county can be found at www.incap.org/energy-assistance.

"We know that our customers are facing rising costs for necessities, from groceries and transportation to their electric bill, which has risen due to escalating fuel costs to produce electricity," said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. "We've found that more of our customers could take advantage of the resources available to them, and we want to connect them to help."

The company also is encouraging customers who may be struggling to apply to the Indiana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federally funded program is administered through statewide community action agencies and assists qualifying individuals with their energy bills. The application period opened Oct. 3.

"We expect that with the rising cost of natural gas and heating oil, as well as the challenging economy, the number of families in need of energy assistance will increase again this year. We are proud to partner with our local service providers to administer the Energy Assistance Program to help Hoosiers with these costs," said Jacob Sipe, executive director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

Hoosiers should contact their local service provider to apply for LIHEAP. A list of service providers and more information can be found at eap.ihcda.in.gov.

Duke Energy also offers a number of tools and resources to help customers manage their bills, control their energy use and save money, including:

Budget Billing: Budget Billing lets customers pay one predictable amount every month to better manage their budget. The amount is periodically reviewed and adjusted.

Pick Your Due Date: Customers can choose the date they want their Duke Energy bill to be due each month to align with a date that works for them.

Installment plans: Duke Energy recently extended interest-free payment plans from three to six months for eligible Indiana customers. Customers can request a few extra days or restructure a past-due balance into a monthly payment plan. Customers should contact Duke Energy at 800.521.2232 to discuss options available to them.

Usage alerts: Customers can sign-up for emails and/or texts halfway through a billing cycle, well before a bill arrives, with their current usage amount and a projection of what their final monthly bill could be.

Budget alerts: Customers can also set alerts, so they know when their bill reaches a specific dollar amount of their choosing, allowing them to adjust their usage before their bill arrives.

To learn more about these programs and others, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 870,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.

Contact: Angeline Protogere
24-Hour: 888.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What assistance is Duke Energy providing to Indiana customers in 2022?

Duke Energy is providing an additional $200,000 in assistance, allowing qualifying customers to receive up to $300 annually.

How many households have received assistance from Duke Energy's Share the Light Fund?

Nearly 1,700 households have received over $378,000 in energy bill assistance this year.

What is the application period for Indiana's LIHEAP program?

The application period for the Indiana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) opened on October 3, 2022.

What tools does Duke Energy offer to help customers manage their energy bills?

Duke Energy offers Budget Billing, Pick Your Due Date, installment plans, usage alerts, and budget alerts.

How can Indiana customers apply for energy assistance?

Customers can contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible for assistance.