ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.,
July 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke
Energy Florida today filed a proposal with the Florida Public
Service Commission to provide additional assistance to customers
through the company's low-income programs.
"Our customers remain our top priority. Duke Energy Florida is
committed to assisting all of our customers, especially those who
are most vulnerable," said Melissa
Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We want
customers to know we are here when they need us most."
These proposed modifications continue to demonstrate the
company's leadership and commitment to implement innovative energy
efficiency and demand-side management programs targeted at
low-income customers.
The modifications specifically recognize the economic hardships
many customers are experiencing due to COVID and the company's
desire to help its customers reduce their energy bills, as well as
provide bill payment assistance.
The filing was part of an agreement developed with customer
representatives of several consumer groups, including the CLEO
Institute, Vote Solar and the Southern Alliance for Clean
Energy.
"Too many families are struggling with unnecessarily high energy
bills because their homes lack the basic energy efficiency
improvements needed to reduce energy waste," said George
Cavros, Florida Energy Policy Attorney for Southern Alliance for
Clean Energy. "We thank Duke Energy for its engagement with
stakeholders on this first step towards addressing Florida's significant energy affordability
challenge."
Duke Energy Florida's filing will further expand several
existing programs that assist lower-income customers.
"Energy justice and economic justice are inextricably
intertwined. The measures in this agreement will provide financial
support to those most impacted by both the COVID crisis and the
climate crisis," said Yoca Arditi-Rocha, Executive Director of
the CLEO Institute. "While there is still much ahead to be
done, we're extremely encouraged by the steps taken to ease the
energy burden for Florida's most
vulnerable communities."
Here is a summary of today's filing:
- Duke Energy Florida will increase the Neighborhood Energy
Savers targeted customers by 5%.
- The company is also making temporary changes to the approved
Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA) programs for
lower-income customers at or below 200% of the federal poverty
guidelines and who have arrearages that are greater than 60 days.
In order to provide almost immediate relief to those customers, all
eligible customers enrolled in the company's approved Residential
Demand Response Program will receive a $30 "assistance incentive" in the form of a gift
card that can be used to help pay their energy bill.
- The second modification to FEECA programs will offer 20,000
assistance kits to provide meaningful energy efficiency savings to
customers in need.
"Power disconnects — particularly in areas of Florida most impacted by rising temperatures
due to climate change — can be a matter of life or death,"
says Katie Chiles Ottenweller, Vote Solar's Southeast
Director. "Nobody should be put in harm's way because of an
unaffordable utility bill. We thank Duke Energy for putting these
protections in place and hope other utilities will do the
same."
Complete filing here.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns a diverse
generation mix of natural gas, coal and renewables, providing about
10,200 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.9
million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 7.9 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to
create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities –
with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and
net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S.
renewable energy provider, on track to operate or purchase 16,000
megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is
investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery
storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies
such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. 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: Ana Gibbs
Cell: 813.928.7263
Media line: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy