Duke to return to standard billing and payment practices

Duke Energy will begin its standard billing and payment practices in South Carolina in the coming weeks, keeping service disconnections for nonpayment of electric service suspended until October 2020. South Carolina customers who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic now will have until October to pay previous balances to their accounts or make payment arrangements. Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress – the company’s two electric utilities in South Carolina – will return to standard billing and payment practices as of Oct. 1, which means customers in arrears will receive notices about their past-due balances. However, the earliest possible date their electric service could be disconnected is Oct. 12. For several months, the company has been reaching out to customers behind on their bills to offer payment plans. We are actively working with customers to prevent the disconnection of electric service. The company urges eligible customers to take advantage of available financial support through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds available through statewide community action agencies. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extraordinary financial and emotional hardships for many in the community. Customers who need assistance are encouraged to visit 211.org to learn about available resources. Those in need of a payment arrangement are not required to make a down payment and no customer on a payment plan who is current on that arrangement will be disconnected.