Calls for accountability are intensifying across North Carolina as residents push for an independent audit of Duke Energy, with critics increasingly framing the utility as a monopoly that operates with too little oversight.
A petition demanding a full audit of Duke Energy’s billing system has drawn more than 77,000 signatures from North and South Carolina residents. The effort seeks to determine whether customers have been overcharged and whether refunds should be issued. It comes amid widespread concern over rising utility bills that many households say are difficult to explain.
“Unexpected and unexplainable increases… impact our ability to plan and manage our household finances,” the petition states, pointing to the growing strain on families already dealing with higher living costs.
In local online community forums such as the North Carolina subreddit, frustration has boiled over into sharper language and broader criticism of the system itself. Truth be told, it’s been bubbling for some time.
“Duke Energy is the biggest extortionist in the world,” one Reddit user wrote, capturing a sentiment that has gained traction as bills climb and trust erodes.
Duke Energy Accused of Monopoly Control in North Carolina
At the center of the backlash is Duke Energy’s position as a regulated utility monopoly. While that structure is designed to ensure consistent service, critics argue it also limits competition and leaves customers with few alternatives when rates rise.
“I’ve never understood how this is one of the few industries where a company gets to hold a monopoly while still being profit driven,” one commenter wrote.
Duke Energy maintains that its rates are set through a regulated process overseen by the North Carolina Utilities Commission and attributes recent bill increases in part to seasonal weather. The company is also seeking additional rate hikes in the coming years, with public hearings already underway.
Still, for many residents, the audit push is less about a single rate increase and more about transparency in a system they feel is tilted against them.
“Show me the repairs… show me the actual work,” one user wrote, calling for clearer evidence that rising costs are justified.
Some commenters noted that Duke Energy already undergoes independent financial audits as a publicly traded company. But others pushed back, arguing that standard audits do not address whether a monopoly utility is charging customers fairly.
“That does nothing to prove that they aren’t overcharging,” one response read.
According to a report from NC Voices, Data from the Energy and Policy Institute has added fuel to the debate. Its Utility Profit Tracker estimates that about $21.70 of a typical $100 Duke Energy Carolinas bill goes toward profit, a figure critics say underscores the need for closer scrutiny.
With public pressure building and regulatory hearings ongoing, the audit movement is quickly evolving into a broader challenge of how North Carolina regulates its most essential services and whether the current system is working for the people it serves.
