CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The new year brought in a blast of cold weather, and Duke Energy is offering some tips for managing your energy costs.

New Duke Energy logo.

As colder temperatures settle in, follow these simple energy-efficiency tips to save all winter long:

Money-saving tips to combat the cold

  • Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting when home, and bump the thermostat down a degree or two when leaving home.
  • Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction, which pushes warm air back down into the room.
  • One of the easiest things customers can do to support heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy.
  • Have the HVAC system checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance. Duke Energy offers qualified customers rebates to help offset the cost of replacing older HVAC units with more energy efficient ones.
  • 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.
  • Replace standard bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or light emitting diodes (LED). CFLs and LEDs are more efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the same amount of light. Visit Duke Energy's online store for free and discounted bulbs: duke-energy.com/deals.

For a video on five ways to save energy under $50, go to https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/5-ways-to-save-energy-for-under-50.

Power Outages

The company has sufficient resources to meet customers' energy needs, but the low temperatures will put higher stress on mechanical equipment used to generate and deliver electricity. Isolated equipment problems are possible, which could result in scattered outages.

Customers who experience power outages should call Duke Energy's automated outage-reporting systems for their respective utility:

Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766)

Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356

Customers may also report an outage or view current outages online at www.duke-energy.com/outages or text OUT to 57801.

With the colder than normal temperatures, it also is 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 a power outage.

Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

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Contact: 24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy