CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy
has implemented additional steps to protect its customers and
employees in the six states it serves during the COVID-19
pandemic.
Duke Energy power plants, and electricity and natural gas
delivery facilities, are staffed, ensuring dependable service to
customers.
The company has taken the following steps to protect its
customers and employees:
- Duke Energy will not disconnect any customer's service for
non-payment, in order to give customers experiencing financial
hardship extra time to make payments. The company will continue to
read meters and send bills. Customers should pay what they can to
avoid building up a large balance that will be harder to pay off
later.
- Through a carefully planned process, Duke Energy has directed
employees who are not involved with power generation, power
delivery, customer service or other critical functions to work from
home, where possible.
- Duke Energy technicians will continue to respond to power
outages and other emergencies.
- Company technicians will continue to complete service orders –
such as new electric connections and requested disconnections.
- If technicians need to interact with customers in-person, such
as in an emergency, they will follow the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control's safety guidelines, including social distancing.
- Services that are not urgent or time-sensitive, but require
in-person customer contact by Duke Energy employees, will be
rescheduled. Duke Energy will contact customers to reschedule those
appointments.
- Duke Energy's customer service team is available to serve
customers. The company will evaluate any staffing impacts related
to school and other closures, and will adjust accordingly.
- Customers can perform nearly all customer service functions
online, through Duke Energy's automated voice phone system, or
through the company's mobile app.
- Visit Duke Energy Updates for complete customer information,
including answers to frequently asked questions.
- Be aware of scammers, who continue to target customers,
threatening disconnection of service and asking for immediate
payment over the phone. Duke Energy never asks for personal
information over the phone or demands payment using money orders or
gift cards.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. It employs 29,000 people and
has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its
regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated
Duke Energy Renewables unit.
More information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news
releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke
Energy's illumination features stories about people,
innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke
Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy