Duke Energy has expressed gratitude to its customers for their efforts in conserving energy during a recent heat wave that affected North Carolina and South Carolina. The company reported a new summer peak usage record of 35,269 megawatt-hours on June 24, 2025, surpassing the previous record set in July 2024.
Ben Harrison, Duke Energy’s vice president of grid operations – planning and operations, acknowledged the inconvenience caused by reducing electricity use but emphasized its importance. “We appreciate our customers’ support this week to reduce their electricity use during the hottest parts of the day,” he said. “I am also grateful for our crews and grid and plant operators that managed through this event.”
Duke Energy relies on a diverse mix of energy sources including nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric power, renewables, and coal to meet increasing demand. The company plans to expand solar energy and storage solutions along with new natural gas plants over the next five years.
The utility company also shared several tips for saving energy and money during hot weather. These include setting thermostats to higher comfortable settings, using cooler water for laundry, running appliances during cooler hours, closing curtains on sunny sides of homes, and operating ceiling fans counterclockwise.
During the heat wave from June 23 to June 24, more than 521,000 Carolinas customers participated in Duke Energy’s demand response programs to help manage peak demand.
Duke Energy offers various savings programs such as free home energy assessments with efficiency kits and rebates for equipment upgrades through its Smart $aver program. Customers can also receive bill credits by shifting energy use through programs like Power Manager or EnergyWise Home.
For those needing payment assistance, Duke Energy provides installment payment plans and collaborates with local agencies for resources like the Share the Light Fund and Low Income Home Energy Assistance programs.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., serving millions of electric and natural gas customers across several states. It is focused on transitioning towards cleaner energy while maintaining customer reliability.
For further information on saving energy or about Duke Energy’s initiatives, visit duke-energy.com/SummerSavings or follow them on social media platforms.
