Photo: Vadym Terelyuk / iStock / Getty Images
Clearwater, FL - Residents in Clearwater waited in a line stretching more than a block Monday morning as Duke Energy held a community outreach event aimed at helping customers understand available bill-reduction programs.
Many attendees arrived before sunrise after learning the company would be on site to offer cost-saving information during the holiday season.
The high turnout came shortly after Clearwater officials advanced plans to study creating a city-run electric utility.
The city’s 30-year franchise agreement with Duke Energy expires at the end of the month.
Clearwater leaders have said a municipally operated service could reduce electric bills by about 10%.
If the contract expires before a new deal is negotiated, existing terms would stay in place so customers would not experience service disruptions.
Any potential transition would take time.
Duke Energy has stated it would not transfer its infrastructure voluntarily, meaning Clearwater would need to acquire equipment and facilities through eminent domain.
That process could take years and would require legal and financial steps before any change could occur.
Duke has also said that municipal utility systems do not guarantee lower rates.
Duke Energy representatives said the event’s location was chosen to support residents who have struggled with high bills.
Company spokesperson Aly Raschid said many customers in the area were behind on payments and that staff attended to explain assistance programs and planned rate changes.
Duke Energy expects to lower rates by about 22 percent in March, which the company estimates will reduce the average bill by roughly 44 dollars per 1,000 kilowatt hours.