CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- With near
record-high temperatures across the Carolinas, Duke Energy is
seeing energy usage climb to summer levels.
"October is generally a low-usage month for customers who need
little to no air conditioning or heating to stay comfortable," said
Nelson Peeler, Duke Energy senior
vice president and chief transmission officer. "With the overall
usage we are seeing, we know cooling systems across the region are
running throughout the day and into the evening, and that's going
to affect power bills come November."
Duke Energy has sufficient resources to meet customers' energy
needs through this unusual fall heat wave, but offers the following
tips to help manage energy costs.
Energy efficiency tips to combat the heat
- Set your AC to the highest comfortable setting. Every
degree increase saves about 5 percent in cooling costs. ENERGY
STARĀ® recommends a minimum set point of 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Don't cool an empty house. If you'll be out and about,
adjust or program your thermostat to work around your
schedule.
- Close the blinds. Shutting blinds, drapes and shades
during the hottest part of the day can keep the sun's rays from
heating your house.
- Use fans in occupied rooms. They circulate air to
supplement air conditioning. Make sure the fans are set to operate
in a counterclockwise direction.
- Use heat-producing appliances such as your oven and stove and
your washer and dryer at night when it's cooler to avoid building
up heat in your home during warmer times of day.
Monitoring your energy use
Duke Energy offers ways to monitor your energy use to help
customers avoid billing surprises, including:
- Customers who have smart meters can monitor their hourly and
daily energy usage online. This helps customers track their energy
use and make adjustments in between billing cycles to help them
save energy and money.
duke-energy.com/our-company/about-us/smart-grid/smart-meter
- Duke Energy Carolinas customers can take control of their
electricity use and monthly budget with Usage Alerts. Customers
will automatically receive an email halfway through the billing
cycle. The email will include the current bill amount and a
projection of what their final monthly bill could be. Customers
also have the option to receive mid-cycle alerts via text message.
Customers can set up budget alerts to help keep their bill in
check. They will be informed when their bill is expected to reach a
specific dollar amount of their choosing, allowing them to
course-correct and cut back on usage if they wish.
- Customers also receive high bill alerts if their bill is
projected to be $30 and 30 percent
higher than usual. This projection is based upon historical usage
and whether the temperatures are higher or lower than last month.
The courtesy alerts are sent halfway through the normal billing
cycle, allowing customers to have time to make energy-saving
choices to help reduce their bill. In order to receive an alert, a
customer should have a current email address on file and at least
12 months of usage history.
duke-energy.com/home/billing/high-bill-alerts
For more information, tips, programs and ways to save money,
visit duke-energy.com.
About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding
companies in the United States.
Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves
approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the
Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and
Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to
approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business
unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across
the United States.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the
company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and
videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online
destination for stories about people, innovations, and community
and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and
insights into the future of energy.
Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and
Facebook.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy