- B-roll of energy-saving tips to combat the cold
available here
CINCINNATI, Jan. 12,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A wintry mix of precipitation
and bitterly cold temperatures are expected to arrive this weekend.
Along with severe wind gusts, there is an elevated likelihood for
scattered power outages across Ohio and Kentucky.
With sub-freezing temperatures on the horizon, Duke Energy is
offering some tips for managing energy use and utility bills.
Money-saving tips to combat the cold
- Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The
smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures,
the lower your energy usage and bills.
- One of the easiest things customers can do for heating
efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter
makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy and can
increase costs. Also, have heating systems checked regularly by a
qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain
efficiency and peak performance.
- Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow
the sun's rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help
insulate your home.
- One of best energy saving habits you can do each year is to
check windows, doors and vents for air leaks. Caulking, sealing and
weatherstripping leaks can save on your heating bills.
- Replace standard bulbs with light emitting diodes (LED). LEDs
are more efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same
amount of light. Replacing just six of your most frequently used
bulbs with LEDs can save up to $480
over the lifetime of the bulbs.
- Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction in the winter,
which pushes warm air back down into the room. (Most fans have a
switch that allows you to reverse the motor.) While fans move air
and make people more comfortable, they do not provide heat, so
remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
- Manage water heating. Set your water heater to 120 degrees or
less. Water heating is typically the second biggest user of energy
in your home.
Ways to manage winter heating bills
Duke Energy offers free programs and tools to help customers
better manage and understand their monthly energy expenses:
- Budget Billing gives customers better control over their energy
spending by establishing predictable monthly payments.
- Pick your Due Date allows customers to adjust the date their
bill is due.
- Interest-free Installment Payment Plans are available for
customers who need flexibility with paying a bill.
- Usage Alerts notify customers how much energy they are using
and how much it costs in time to adjust before the end of a billing
cycle.
For customers who qualify, Duke Energy's partnerships with
community and state agencies can help them access a range of state,
federal assistance and Duke Energy programs, including:
- Share the Light Fund®: Assists qualifying customers struggling
to pay their energy bills. The program is funded through
contributions from Duke Energy shareholders, customers and
employees.
- Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides
assistance to qualifying Ohio and
Kentucky households who might not
otherwise be able to afford to heat their homes.
- Weatherization Program: Helps income-qualified customers in
Kentucky save energy and reduce
expenses through the installation of energy conservation measures
in their homes.
With the colder than normal temperatures, it also a good time to
check on friends, neighbors and family members who may be elderly
to ensure they have what they need to stay warm and that their
emergency kits are ready in the event of an emergency.
Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy,
provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial, and
industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and
natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile
service area, in Ohio and
Kentucky.
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 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 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 27,600
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity
generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets
of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for
Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by
2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the
company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy
storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies
such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "World'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.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy