Duke Energy Florida announces significantly lower bills in 2026; residential customers using 1,000 kWh to see approximately $44 decrease beginning in March

• Storm Cost Recovery charge to be removed in March

• Customer support continues through assistance programs and tools, including flexible payment plans

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Today, Duke Energy Florida announced a substantial rate reduction in 2026 as a result of the company's annual rate adjustment.

Message to customers:

"Duke Energy Florida understands our customers face financial challenges, often making difficult decisions regarding which bill they can afford to pay," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "That's why keeping costs low remains a priority for us, and we'll continue connecting them with assistance programs and tools to help them save."

What's changing:

• This adjustment includes Duke Energy Florida's annual fuel, capacity, energy conservation, storm protection plan and environmental compliance clause costs.
  
• Duke Energy Florida does not profit from increased fuel costs, and the company works to shield customers from price swings, as outlined in the three-year (2025-2027) agreement reached with customer advocacy groups in 2024.
  
• Rates for 2026 reflect investments to strengthen grid reliability and expand solar energy, resulting in fewer outages, faster restoration after storms and lower fuel costs.
  
• Approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) is anticipated later this year.

What it means:

• January-February 2026:
  
  • While rates are expected to increase approximately $7.54 for typical residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity when compared to December 2025, bills will decrease in total beginning in March 2026.
    
  • Commercial and industrial customers should expect to see bill increases ranging from 4.3% to 8.2% when compared to December 2025, though the specific impact will vary depending on several factors.
    
• March 2026:
  
  • Bills are expected to decrease by approximately $44.16 for residential customers using 1,000 kWh of electricity when compared to February 2026.
    
  • Commercial and industrial customers should expect to see bill decreases ranging from 9.6% to 15.8% when compared to February 2026, though the specific impact will vary depending on several factors.
    
  • This reduction is largely due to the removal of the Storm Cost Recovery charge associated with Duke Energy Florida's response to hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton.

Please note that electric rates can fluctuate during the year based on fuel prices and storm-related costs.

Help is available:

Duke Energy Florida remains committed to supporting customers with flexible payment plans, tools to help manage energy use and various assistance programs:

• Home Energy Check : Free in-person, online or phone evaluation of your home's energy efficiency, as well as recommendations for improvement
  
• Home Improvement Rebate Programs : Rebates for energy efficiency upgrades made around your home (only if you have completed a Home Energy Check first)
  
• Income-Qualified Weatherization Program : Free installation of energy efficiency upgrades around your home (only if you have an income less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines)
  
• EnergyWise ^® Home Program : Annual bill credits for automatically reducing your energy usage during periods of high demand
  
• Time-of-Use Rate Program : Lowered rates for shifting your energy usage away from the three to six hours a day when demand typically surges
  
• Budget Billing : Predictable monthly energy bills regardless of changes in your energy usage or the weather
  
• Share the Light Fund ^® : Funds distributed by participating agencies to help pay electric bills, deposits and connection/reconnection charges

More information can be found at duke-energy.com/HereToHelp and duke-energy.com/SeasonalSavings.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid