With the onset of summer's first heat wave in the Carolinas, Duke Energy is advising customers on how to manage their energy consumption. The company is offering various tools and programs aimed at helping customers save energy and reduce costs during periods of high temperatures.
Sasha Weintraub, Duke Energy's senior vice president and chief customer officer, stated, "We provide personalized usage alerts that provide insight to how customers use energy and offer a variety of customer programs, incentives, tools and tips to help customers save energy and money, especially when temperatures spike." Weintraub emphasized the company's commitment to keeping costs low for its customers by sharing strategies for managing energy use.
Duke Energy suggests several practical steps for conserving energy. Customers are encouraged to set thermostats to the highest comfortable setting as even minor adjustments can lead to savings. Additionally, using cooler water for laundry can cut energy use significantly. Other recommendations include running heat-producing appliances during cooler hours, closing curtains on sunny sides of homes, and operating ceiling fans counterclockwise in summer.
The company also offers savings programs such as free home energy assessments through its Home Energy House Call program. Customers can receive rebates on equipment upgrades via the Smart $aver program. Furthermore, Duke Energy provides bill credits for shifting energy use through its Power Manager or EnergyWise Home programs.
For those needing financial assistance with bills, installment payment plans are available. Duke Energy collaborates with local agencies to connect eligible customers with resources like the Share the Light Fund and Low Income Home Energy Assistance programs.
Duke Energy serves 8.6 million electric utility customers across several states including North Carolina and South Carolina. It is actively investing in electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation technologies as part of an ongoing transition towards a smarter energy future.
Further information about these initiatives can be found on duke-energy.com/SummerSavings or by contacting their 24-hour service line.