Driving the news: In 2025, Americans spent an average estimated $158/month on their home electric bills, per a new Axios analysis of data collected and shared by climate newsroom Heatmap News.
Zoom in: In Wake County, the average electric bill was $164 a month. But in neighboring Durham County, the average was $143 a month.
That quirk is due to the counties being split between Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, two entities that have been separate from a regulatory standpoint, but are now attempting to merge.
Between the lines: Concerns over rising prices have drawn more attention to Duke Energy's current rate increase request with North Carolina's Utilities Commission.
Duke Energy asked regulators last year for permission to raise rates for residential customers by more than 16% by 2028.
The Utilities Commission is holding public hearings on the matter throughout the spring before the Republican-majority commission makes a ruling.