Duke Energy is set to provide a $90.5 million refund to millions of American households starting with June billing cycles. This refund comes after regulators confirmed that customers were overcharged for storm restoration costs linked to hurricanes in 2024. The utility had collected over $1 billion while actual storm recovery costs were around $915.3 million, leading to a significant correction in energy billing practices. The refund will automatically lower per-kilowatt-hour rates from 4.414 cents to 3.852 cents, resulting in savings of approximately $5.62 per month for a typical household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours. This adjustment will last until September, after which rates are expected to return to normal levels. The automatic nature of the refund ensures that customers do not need to apply for credits, making it a significant consumer-friendly initiative amidst rising energy costs.