CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy and
Piedmont Natural Gas today announced a comprehensive set of steps
to help customers, communities and employees manage the economic
hardship caused by COVID-19.
"This is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented
response," said Lynn Good, Duke
Energy's chairman, president and CEO. "We hope the customers and
communities we are privileged to serve – and the outstanding Duke
Energy employees who serve them – will take some comfort from these
actions."
More Help for Customers
The company will waive late
payment fees and fees for returned payments for its millions of
electric and natural gas customers across its service territories
beginning Saturday March 21 until the
national state of emergency is lifted. For residential customers,
the company will also waive fees for credit and debit card
payments.
Last week, Duke Energy said it would discontinue service
disconnections for unpaid bills. That covers 7.8 million
electric customers; plus, 1.8 million natural gas customers, many
of whom are served by Piedmont Natural Gas.
"Our goal is to continue providing reliable service while
helping our most vulnerable customers during this extraordinary
time," Good said.
Community Assistance
The company also announced
$1.3 million in donations by The Duke
Energy Foundation to support hunger relief and help local health
and human services nonprofits across its service territories,
including those providing meals to children and families impacted
by school closures. Given the unprecedented nature of the
situation, Duke Energy is giving nonprofits the flexibility to use
the funds where most needed.
Relief for Employees
To aid in providing
continued service to our customers through this event, Duke Energy
will also expand assistance to employees, in order to maintain the
highest level of service to customers. This is part of the
company's larger donation.
The company is providing five additional personal days off to
employees who experience a disruption in dependent care due to
school, daycare or other child-related care – as most all schools
are not in session. Duke Energy will also provide a $1,500 stipend to assist with unplanned expenses
resulting from costs related to COVID-19 issue.
As part of the company's larger donation, for Duke Energy
employees, the company is donating $100,000 to the Relief4Employees program, which
is a fund that employees can draw on for short term financial help
during times of personal need.
Continued service to customers
The company will
continue to read meters in most areas and send bills. Customers
should pay what they can to avoid building up large balances that
will be more difficult to pay off later.
Duke Energy power plants, electricity and natural gas delivery
facilities and call centers, are staffed, ensuring dependable
service to customers. The company will continue to respond to power
outages and other emergencies.
Customers should download the company's mobile app or visit
duke-energy.com or piedmontng.com for information and
most service transactions. Customers who are unable to self-serve
can still contact the company:
- Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-777-9898
- Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356
- Duke Energy Florida: 1-800-700-8744
- Duke Energy Indiana: 1-800-521-2232
- Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky:
1-800-543-5599
- Piedmont Natural Gas: 1-800-752-7504
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.
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts, and is
funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about
the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at
duke-energy.com/foundation.
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.
Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is an energy
services company whose principal business is the distribution of
natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and
industrial customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina
and Tennessee. The company also
supplies natural gas to power plants.
Media contact: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy