Communities United For Action

Woodlawn City Council member and community activist Michelle Starr said the flat delivery fee structure is unfair to lower energy using residents, because she says the fixed charges come with additional delivery rider increases, and represent a much higher percentage of their total bills compared to customers in larger homes who use higher amounts of energy.

"Duke applies a fixed flat rate to every customer, and it is not fair to those who use lower amounts of energy and are already struggling to pay," Starr said.

Starr is calling on regulators to consider a usage-based model for delivery fees.

"I am asking them to consider fairer billing," Starr said, "based on usage."

Erica L Black-Johnson, of the group Communities United for Action, said the complexity of Duke Energy bills is a broader problem for many families.

"There's so much on your Duke bill," Black-Johnson said. "The problem is, very few of us, if any of us, know what all of that other stuff is. We're just flabbergasted, like why?"

'It is not fair' | Why consumer groups are challenging Duke Energy's new rate hike request Duke Energy has filed for another rate hike in Ohio, this time on the electric delivery fee. But a number of consumer and citizens groups are fighting it, despite the fact it won't raise rates much.