Duke Energy's Initiatives to Help Customers Amid Freezing Winter Weather in the Carolinas
As winter sets in and the Carolinas face prolonged freezing temperatures, Duke Energy is proactively reaching out to its customers. They aim to highlight how these cold conditions can notably affect energy costs and offer practical advice to help mitigate those expenses.
When temperatures plummet, there is an unavoidable rise in energy consumption as households work hard to keep their environments warm. Sasha Weintraub, Duke Energy's senior vice president and chief customer officer, states that this surge in demand leads to increased bills. To combat this, customers can implement simple yet effective measures to manage their heating expenses.
Here are several strategies that Duke Energy suggests to help households save on their heating costs this winter:
1. Adjust Your Thermostat: Consider lowering your thermostat to its lowest comfortable setting. Regularly keeping your thermostat set 7 to 10 degrees lower than usual can yield significant energy savings, amounting to about 10% annually.
2. Optimize Water Heating: Set your water heater to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating water is often the second largest energy expense in a home.
3. Utilize Natural Heat: Keep blinds and drapes open on sunny days to take advantage of natural heating from the sun, and close them during the night to prevent heat loss.
4. Circulate Warm Air: Ceiling fans should run in a clockwise direction during winter months, pushing the warm air back down into living spaces.
5. Weatherproof Windows: Cover drafty windows with heavy-duty plastic sheets or install insulating shades to minimize heat loss.
6. Regular Maintenance: Changing air filters and scheduling maintenance for heating systems can significantly improve energy efficiency.
7. Seal Cracks: Use caulking or weather stripping to seal any cracks in windows and doors, which can save about 10% to 20% on heating costs.
8. Switch to LED Lights: Replace conventional bulbs with LED ones, known for their efficiency in energy consumption.
Customers are encouraged to monitor their energy usage actively. By setting personalized alerts through the Duke Energy app, customers can preemptively manage their consumption before bills arrive, thereby avoiding unpleasant surprises.
Duke Energy is also anticipating winter storms that could potentially disrupt power supplies. The company is equipped to quickly respond to outages resulting from hazardous conditions. Therefore, they urge customers to prepare for adverse weather by ensuring they have essential supplies, including:
Safety tips during potential outages include:
If power goes out, customers can report outages using various methods, including texting, the mobile app, visiting the website, or calling an automated system.
Duke Energy (NYSE DUK), based in Charlotte, N.C., serves millions across several states while focusing on transitioning to cleaner energy sources. The company aims to achieve net-zero methane emissions by 2030 and carbon emissions from electric generation by 2050.
By offering these tips and resources, Duke Energy aims to empower its customers to effectively manage their energy consumption amidst the challenges posed by winter weather. For more detailed advice on energy savings and storm preparedness, visit duke-energy.com/WinterEnergySavings.
Understanding Increased Energy Demand
When temperatures plummet, there is an unavoidable rise in energy consumption as households work hard to keep their environments warm. Sasha Weintraub, Duke Energy's senior vice president and chief customer officer, states that this surge in demand leads to increased bills. To combat this, customers can implement simple yet effective measures to manage their heating expenses.
Energy-Saving Tips for Households
Here are several strategies that Duke Energy suggests to help households save on their heating costs this winter:
1. Adjust Your Thermostat: Consider lowering your thermostat to its lowest comfortable setting. Regularly keeping your thermostat set 7 to 10 degrees lower than usual can yield significant energy savings, amounting to about 10% annually.
2. Optimize Water Heating: Set your water heater to a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating water is often the second largest energy expense in a home.
3. Utilize Natural Heat: Keep blinds and drapes open on sunny days to take advantage of natural heating from the sun, and close them during the night to prevent heat loss.
4. Circulate Warm Air: Ceiling fans should run in a clockwise direction during winter months, pushing the warm air back down into living spaces.
5. Weatherproof Windows: Cover drafty windows with heavy-duty plastic sheets or install insulating shades to minimize heat loss.
6. Regular Maintenance: Changing air filters and scheduling maintenance for heating systems can significantly improve energy efficiency.
7. Seal Cracks: Use caulking or weather stripping to seal any cracks in windows and doors, which can save about 10% to 20% on heating costs.
8. Switch to LED Lights: Replace conventional bulbs with LED ones, known for their efficiency in energy consumption.
Customers are encouraged to monitor their energy usage actively. By setting personalized alerts through the Duke Energy app, customers can preemptively manage their consumption before bills arrive, thereby avoiding unpleasant surprises.
Winter Storm Preparedness
Duke Energy is also anticipating winter storms that could potentially disrupt power supplies. The company is equipped to quickly respond to outages resulting from hazardous conditions. Therefore, they urge customers to prepare for adverse weather by ensuring they have essential supplies, including:
- - Charged mobile devices
- - Flashlights and batteries
- - Bottled water and non-perishable foods
- - Necessary medications
Safety tips during potential outages include:
- - Never use grills indoors for heating as they can release harmful carbon monoxide.
- - If there is a power line incident, stay away from fallen or sagging lines.
- - Have alternate housing arrangements if immediate family members have medical needs that require consistent power.
If power goes out, customers can report outages using various methods, including texting, the mobile app, visiting the website, or calling an automated system.
Duke Energy's Commitment
Duke Energy (NYSE DUK), based in Charlotte, N.C., serves millions across several states while focusing on transitioning to cleaner energy sources. The company aims to achieve net-zero methane emissions by 2030 and carbon emissions from electric generation by 2050.
By offering these tips and resources, Duke Energy aims to empower its customers to effectively manage their energy consumption amidst the challenges posed by winter weather. For more detailed advice on energy savings and storm preparedness, visit duke-energy.com/WinterEnergySavings.
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