Duke Energy Offers Energy-Saving Tips to Stay Cool and Save Money This Summer

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- With temperatures soaring well into the 90s this summer, Duke Energy encourages customers to take some simple steps to stay cool and save money.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

"When temperatures are consistently high like they've been the past few weeks, we know customers will use more energy as their air conditioners operate longer and more frequently to keep their homes cool," said Gianna Manes, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief customer officer. "Across our five-state service area, we're seeing residential customer bill increases anywhere from 12 to 19 percent compared to this time last year, so it's important that customers understand how making a few simple changes can make a difference in their monthly energy costs," Manes said.

Energy-Saving Information

• Adjusting your thermostat up a few degrees can reduce your cooling costs by as much as 5 percent. Start by setting your thermostat on the highest comfortable setting and then adjust it up when you leave home.
• If you have a ceiling-mounted fan, you can raise your thermostat by as much as four degrees when you are home without noticing a difference in temperature. A ceiling fan will create wind, it will not cool a room, so be sure to turn if off when you're not home.
• Place heat-producing appliances such as lamps and televisions away from the air conditioning thermostat to prevent inaccurate temperature readings.
• For homes without air conditioning systems, use fans to draw cooler air inside during the night and to circulate air throughout your home during the day. Fan blades should rotate counter-clockwise in the summer months.
• Save jobs that produce moisture -- like mopping, dishwashing and washing clothes -- for early morning or night-time hours. The humidity from these activities can make homes uncomfortable. On hot days, cook outdoors, use a microwave oven or prepare cold meals to avoid excess heat in the home.

For more energy-saving tips and information -- including a thermostat calculator that demonstrates possible savings – visit www.duke-energy.com. Click the "residential" tab and select your state. Tips and tools are available in the "Save Energy & Money" section.

Understanding Your Electric Bill

For answers to billing questions, sign up for Duke Energy's Online Services at www.duke-energy.com. Once registered, customers have instant access to a variety of useful tools and information, including a 13-month billing history and comparative weather data from the previous year. These records can help illustrate how extreme temperature fluctuations affect energy usage.

Online Services customers can also take advantage of programs, such as Budget Bill (Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky) and Equal Payment Plan (Carolinas), which help customers manage monthly energy costs by offering predictable monthly payments.

Special Assistance Programs

Duke Energy's Third Party Notification Program provides a safety net to help prevent service interruptions for nonpayment. Program participants can designate a relative, friend, neighbor, agency or someone else to receive a copy of their Duke Energy bill each month. The third party is not responsible for paying the bill, but may be able to help arrange for payment – helping avoid disconnection of service.

The summer heat can pose serious health concerns, especially for senior citizens or others with special needs. Duke Energy encourages everyone to check on loved ones and neighbors who may be susceptible to extreme temperatures.

Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Its commercial power and international business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

SOURCE Duke Energy