Extremely cold weather across the East Coast has led to higher-than-normal energy demand in the Carolinas. Duke Energy is asking its customers in North and South Carolina to voluntarily reduce their electricity use between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Monday, February 2, in order to help ease pressure on the grid and avoid possible temporary power outages.
The company recommends that customers lower their thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting, refrain from using major appliances such as washing machines, clothes dryers, and dishwashers during the requested hours, and turn off unnecessary devices and lights. Electric vehicle owners are encouraged to charge their vehicles midday when overall demand is lower.
“We know it’s inconvenient to reduce electric use, but it makes a real difference,” said Gerald Wilson, Duke Energy vice president of grid operations. “We are taking every step to meet our customers energy needs, including maximizing our generation and purchasing power and working with large commercial and industrial customers who have demand response programs. We appreciate our customers’ cooperation, patience and understanding as we work to maintain reliable service across the Carolinas.”
Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, it serves 8.6 million electric utility customers across six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company also owns 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity and provides natural gas services to 1.7 million customers in several states.
The company continues its efforts toward an energy transition by investing in grid upgrades and cleaner forms of generation such as natural gas, nuclear power, renewables, and energy storage.
For more information about Duke Energy’s services or updates during this period of high demand, visit duke-energy.com or follow Duke Energy on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
