Duke Energy Florida has announced that residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month can expect their electricity bills to decrease by about $44 starting in March 2026. The reduction follows the company’s annual rate adjustment process and is largely attributed to the removal of storm cost recovery charges.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy in Florida, said, “Duke Energy Florida understands that our customers are facing economic hardships, which often force them to make difficult decisions about which bills they can afford to pay. That’s why keeping costs low remains a priority for us, and we will continue connecting them with assistance programs and tools to help them save.”
The new rates include adjustments related to annual fuel costs, capacity, energy conservation measures, storm protection plans, and compliance with environmental regulations. According to Duke Energy Florida, the company does not profit from increased fuel costs and works under a three-year agreement (2025-2027) reached with customer advocacy groups in 2024 to shield customers from price volatility.
Investments aimed at improving grid reliability and expanding solar energy are reflected in the 2026 rates. These efforts are intended to reduce outages, speed up restoration after storms, and lower overall fuel expenses. Approval from the Florida Public Service Commission is expected later this year.
For January and February 2026, typical residential customers using 1,000 kWh may see an increase of around $7.54 compared to December 2025. However, by March 2026 bills will drop significantly as storm recovery charges related to hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton are removed. Commercial and industrial customers will also experience changes: an initial increase between 4.3% and 8.2% over December 2025 followed by a reduction of between 9.6% and 15.8% compared to February 2026; specific impacts depend on individual usage patterns.
Electricity rates may fluctuate during the year due to changing fuel prices or storm-related costs.
To support its customers further during these changes, Duke Energy Florida offers several programs including flexible payment plans; free home energy assessments; rebates for efficiency upgrades; income-based weatherization services; participation incentives through the EnergyWise Home program; time-of-use rate options; budget billing for predictable monthly payments; and assistance funds distributed through local agencies.
Duke Energy Florida serves two million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a service area covering roughly 13,000 square miles in Florida with a generation capacity of about 12,300 megawatts.
Parent company Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, supplies electricity to approximately 8.4 million customers across six states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, as well as natural gas service for 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company continues its transition toward cleaner energy sources while investing in electric grid modernization projects.
“Duke Energy Florida understands that our customers are facing economic hardships, which often force them to make difficult decisions about which bills they can afford to pay. That’s why keeping costs low remains a priority for us, and we will continue connecting them with assistance programs and tools to help them save.” — Melissa Seixas
