Duke Energy has requested that its Florida customers voluntarily reduce their electricity usage from 5 to 9 a.m. EST on Monday, February 2, 2026. The company cited the arrival of the coldest air in Florida since 2018, which is causing unusually high demand for electricity across the southeastern United States.
The utility provided several suggestions for lowering energy consumption during this period. Customers are encouraged to set thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature and avoid using appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers during the early morning hours. Turning off unnecessary devices and lights is also recommended. Electric vehicle owners are asked to charge their vehicles midday when overall demand is lower.
“We know power is an essential part of our customers’ everyday lives, and we recognize that reducing electricity usage isn’t an easy ask,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and understanding as we work to continue providing safe, reliable service for our more than 2 million customers during this cold spell.”
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida and owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity.
Duke Energy’s parent company is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States with electric utilities serving 8.4 million customers across six states and owning a total of 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve an additional 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company continues to invest in grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources—including natural gas, nuclear power, renewables, and energy storage—to maintain reliability while transitioning to smarter energy systems.
Further information about Duke Energy can be found at duke-energy.com or through its social media channels.
