Emergency Heating Assistance as Rates Continue to Rise
Explore proposed rates increases, find emergency utility assistance, and learn how you can help your neighbors or participate in the decision-making.
Local nonprofit, the Caswell Parish, has an emergency utility ministry that uses funds from various sources to assist families who cannot pay their electricity bill or buy heating fuel. Priority is given to those who are in danger of having their electrical service terminated or who have no other financial means to purchase propane, kerosene or oil.
Grant funding from the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region (CFDRR) and Share the Light funds from Duke Energy North Carolina, are used to help families “keep the lights on” or buy heating fuel.
Money from Duke Energy North Carolina can only be used to help Duke Energy customers. The Caswell Parish assists Duke Progress and Piedmont Electric customers with funds from the CFDRR and the Parish's own general fund.
In a recent newsletter, the nonprofit's leadership explained that the "funds from CFDRR usually last until late September or early October, but the demand was so great in 2025 that the funds were depleted by late May. After that time, general funds were used to assist families."
They report that in 2025, a total of 173 families received assistance. CFDRR funding provided assistance for 85 of those families. The Duke Energy Foundation provided assistance for 23 families. The Caswell Parish also used $13,658 of its own general fund to help 65 families.
The Parish said they were grateful for their long-term supporters and the unexpected generous donations to their general fund that kept them from denying assistance to any eligible family.
Public Hearings on Proposed Utility Rate Increases
Beginning this month, Duke Energy Progress residential customers in North Carolina will see their electric bills increase by nearly 8%, adding approximately $11 to the average monthly bill. Duke Energy Carolinas customers are anticipating a 3% increase in 2026.
Duke Energy has filed requests to raise rates again over the next two years. The request will raise average residential rates for Duke Energy Progress customers by 18.5%. Duke Energy Carolinas customers would see a 15.8% increase.
Earlier this week, Duke Energy released their 2025 Financial Results, reporting $4.9 billion in profit, or net income available to Duke Energy Corporation common stockholders.
According to PowerOutage.us, the average American pays 16.07¢ per kWh of electricity. In 2025, the average North Carolinian paid 14.09¢ per kWh.
The current standard rate for Duke Energy Progress Residential customers is 12.623¢ per kWh, not including any applicable taxes or fees.
The North Carolina Utilities Commission is hosting a series of public hearings on the proposed 2027 and 2028 rate hikes.
For Duke Energy Progress customers in Caswell, the nearest public hearing will be at 7pm, April 13, 2026 at the Person County Courthouse in Roxboro. There will also be a virtual hearing held on April 1, 2026 at 6:30pm. That link will be available on NCUC website.
Members of the public who would like to testify must register in advance of the hearing, no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 25, 2026. To register, please complete this form on the Commission’s website.
For Duke Energy Carolinas customers there will be 7pm public hearings on May 6, 2026 at the Forsyth County Courthouse in Winston Salem and May 12, 2026 at the Durham County Courthouse in Durham. There will be a virtual public hearing at 6:30pm on April 7, 2026. Link will be available on NCUC website.
Members of the public who would like to testify must register in advance of the hearing, no later than 5 p.m. on March 31, 2026. To register, please complete this form on the Commission’s website.
You can also file a written consumer statement of position in the docket. The form will request the docket number.
For Duke Energy Carolinas customers, that’s E-7, SUB 1329.
For Duke Energy Progress customers, it’s E-2, SUB 1380.
Get Utility Assistance or Help Someone Else
Residents seeking emergency utility assistance can call the Caswell Parish at (336) 694-6428.
To donate or learn more about how you can support their work, please visit them online at www.caswellcountyparish.org. You can also follow them on Facebook or contact them by email at caswellcountyparish@gmail.com.
The Caswell Parish and Two Hearts Thrift store is located at 1038 Main Street in Yanceyville.
Other Available Assistance
The Salvation Army of Rockingham County, serves Caswell County residents and also provides emergency utility assistance when funding is available.
