If you are a Duke Energy customer struggling to pay your electric or gas bill by the due date, you have options. Duke Energy offers helpful programs including due date extensions to provide a little extra time to pay when you need it. Read on to learn how to get up to 5 extra days twice per year to pay your Duke Energy bill without late fees.
Duke Energy Due Date Extensions
All Duke Energy bills have a set due date printed on your statement, usually around 15 days from the billing date But sometimes due to finances, you may need a few extra days to pay in full.
Rather than paying late and incurring fees Duke Energy allows you to extend your due date up to 5 business days past the original due date twice per 12 month period. This provides some flexibility free of charge.
Qualifications
To qualify for a due date extension with Duke Energy:
- Your account must be residential electric or gas service
- You cannot have any past due balance or unpaid extension
- Only 2 extensions are allowed per rolling 12 months
- Extensions are for up to 5 business days
Business accounts or customers with past due amounts are not eligible for due date extensions.
How to Request an Extension
Requesting your two annual Duke Energy bill extensions is easy
- Log into your online account at www.duke-energy.com
- Click “Billing & Payment” then select “Request Due Date Extension”
- Choose the eligible account and enter required details
- Click submit
You can also call Duke’s automated phone system at 800-544-6900 and use the voice prompts to request an extension.
The system will approve or deny the extension based on your eligibility. extension
When to Request an Extension
Due date extensions should be requested 3-5 days before your actual due date. Do not wait until the due date, as the extension needs time to process.
Ideally, request an extension as soon as you realize you will need extra time to pay your bill to avoid late fees. Extensions are applied to the upcoming due date when approved.
Extension Length and Late Fees
If approved, your Duke Energy due date will be extended by up to 5 additional business days past the original due date printed on your bill.
This means if your bill is due on the 20th of the month, and you request an extension, your new extended due date would be the 27th.
As long as the bill is paid in full by the new extended due date, no late fees will apply and your account will remain in good standing.
Tracking Your Extension
After submitting a due date extension, you will receive both email and text confirmations from Duke Energy with your updated extended due date.
You can also log into your online account to view your new due date on your account dashboard after the extension processes.
Be sure to make note of your new due date so your payment is made on time.
Number of Extensions Allowed
Per Duke Energy’s extension policy, customers are allowed 2 bill due date extensions total during any 12 month period.
The 12 months are rolling, so your extension eligibility resets 12 months after any previous extension.
This means you cannot continually extend each bill, but can use extensions strategically twice per year when needed.
If You Need More Time
If your situation requires more than a few extra days and you need a longer grace period to pay your Duke Energy bill, you may need to set up a formal payment plan.
Rather than a due date extension, a payment plan allows you to pay your balance over an agreed timeframe, such as 3-6 months. Payment plans can be arranged by calling Duke Energy’s billing department.
Budget Billing
Another option to make bills more predictable and avoid late payments is Duke’s budget billing plan. This sets your payments at an even amount each month based on your average usage.
Contact Duke Energy customer service to discuss budget billing and other bill payment assistance programs available. There are also financial assistance resources for customers struggling with energy bills.
Avoid Late Fees
The bottom line is that Duke Energy due date extensions allow you to delay your due date up to 5 days without penalty twice per year. This gives some flexibility if you occasionally need extra time to pay your bill in full.
Be sure to request the extension several days before your due date for proper processing. And pay the full amount due by the new extended due date to avoid late fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about Duke Energy due date extensions:
How do I request a due date extension?
You can request an extension online through your Duke Energy account dashboard or by calling 800-544-6900 and using the automated phone prompts.
When should I request an extension?
Request an extension 3-5 days before your actual due date to allow time for processing. Do not wait until the due date.
Can I extend my due date multiple months in a row?
No, only 2 due date extensions are allowed per rolling 12 month period by Duke Energy policy.
How many additional days can I extend my due date?
Bill due dates can be extended up to 5 additional business days past your original due date with an approved extension.
What if I need more than 5 extra days to pay?
If you need a longer grace period, you will need to set up a formal payment plan rather than using a due date extension.
Do extensions affect my credit or account standing?
No, as long as you pay the bill in full by the new extended due date, extensions do not impact your account status or credit.
Who do I contact for questions about extensions?
You can call Duke Energy customer service at 800-544-6900 for any questions about due date extensions or bill payment assistance options.
Don’t let a temporary financial setback lead to late fees – take advantage of Duke Energy’s due date extension policy when you need a little extra time to pay your bill.
Pay later in four easy payments
Need flexibility? Make your budget go the extra distance by paying in installments.
Pay it back in 4
Enjoy the convenience of paying us back in 4 installments, charged every two weeks. Interest-free. No late fees.