Duke Energy customers in Hyde Park, Oakley and Mount Lookout could see electric bills rise about $8 a month if state regulators approve a pending rate hike.

The utility filed the proposal with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on March 30, 2026, according to Fox 19. The $8 increase applies to residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. In the separate natural-gas case, Duke proposes an increase exceeding $24 monthly for a customer using 10 Mcf, and a reconnection fee of $164, up $94 from $70.

The company said the extra revenue would fund grid modernization and infrastructure investments. If approved, the higher rates would likely take effect in 2027.

The proposal comes as Cincinnati electric bills already hover near record levels. An average residential customer's July bill in Cincinnati hit $171, just $1 below the local record, Signal Cincinnati reported on Aug. 3. That figure assumes 900 kilowatt-hours of monthly usage, a slightly different baseline than the 1,000 kilowatt-hours Duke used in its filing. Statewide, July bills ran 12% higher than the prior year and 62% higher than a decade ago.

Residents voiced frustration at an Oct. 21 meeting hosted by Communities United for Action (CUFA), a community advocacy group. The organization is preparing people to testify at upcoming PUCO public hearings.

Justin Maxwell, a community organizer with CUFA, told Fox 19 the group's goal was to "prepare people to give confident testimony in front of the board members that contextualizes exactly what we are going through."

A Duke Energy spokesperson said in a statement that the company is "conscious of making smart investments while keeping prices as low as possible."

PUCO has scheduled three public hearings in December where residents can testify about the proposed increase:

  • Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., MidPointe Library Community Room, 125 South Broad St., Middletown
  • Dec. 10 at 12:30 p.m., Cincinnati City Hall Council Chambers, Room 300, 801 Plum St.
  • Dec. 10 at 6 p.m., Hamilton Municipal Building, Council Chambers, 345 High St., Hamilton