This allows us to compare directly the impact of weather month to month.". Clean energy advocate Vote Solar has issued a new report as the S.C. Public Service Commission prepares to take comments later this month on Duke Energy's revised Integrated Resource Plan proposal. We made significant progress on our strategy, seizing opportunities at every turn to better serve our customers and communities and grow our business. Those are substantial numbers, said Norris, who worked for the U.S. Department of Energy under former President Barack Obama. I was impressed and wanted to learn more about how the company works to restore power and how it keeps customers up to date. Meaning this January was almost 6 colder. Duke Energy announced in the early hours of Dec. 24 that it would institute rolling power outages in North and South Carolina. 91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton 94.1 Lumberton 99.9 Southern Pines Texting OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). 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. All rights reserved. By comparison, we had ten 60+ days in January 2020. 4326 Mail Service Center. As a result, only 6% of 496 complaints are resolved. Duke Energys strategy for monitoring and responding to power outages keeps customers informed through several channels. If you encounter a downed traffic signal or a limb blocking a roadway, contact the Mayor's Action Center at 317-327-4622 or online at RequestIndy.gov. When you compare her usage this January to the hot summer months plus when you compare to last January, it is much higher. Sanford homeowner Kristen Thomas' says her Central Electric Membership Corporation bill is typically around $200 a month, but the most recent bill jumped to $395. We did have some reduced power generating capacity, and were challenged in our ability to secure additional power from outside of our service area due to all utilities in the region dealing with similar challenges from the extreme cold," said Brooks. Sally Thelen, the spokeswoman for Duke Energy, said crews worked double shifts overnight and newcrews are joining the effort to return power to customers. Also if you have a smart meter, you can continue your daily usage. All rights reserved. If you don't if either one of those is off it actually throws off the system stability, and the grid can collapse, and that's very difficult to recover from. "Were also keeping an eye on the weather because theres the potential for more storms that could hamper restoration.. The governments force-fed green energy transition is creating systemic vulnerabilities, claimed the Wall Street Journals editorial board. Duke now has restoration estimates for more than 36K customers without power. 800-488-3853 (toll free)
", 'This is ridiculous': Unemployed workers struggle while waiting for benefits to renew. 2022 Annual Report. Heating degree-days measures the impact outside temperatures have on heating needs and energy use. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. They're expected to get that report at a meeting next Tuesday. Something similar happened in Texas last winter. I have winterized my home. 06/22/2023 Complaint Type: Problems with Product/Service Status: Resolved Purchased insurance through Duke Energy to repair any ** issues. This chart shows a view of problem reports submitted in the past 24 hours compared to the typical volume of reports by time of day. The sheet lists the four ways to report an outage: phone, text, online and through the Duke Energy mobile app, which you can download from the Apple and Android app stores before severe weather. Affordability and reliability are top of mind for both the company and customers. 27699-4300 (919) 733-9277 or. All rights reserved. The IRA is an important tool for lowering costs for customers. If you experience any issues with this process, please contact us for further assistance. I mistakenly thought it was my wife reminding me to pick up a few things at the supermarket. You can unsubscribe to any of the investor alerts you are subscribed to by visiting the unsubscribe section below. In my case, the estimate communicated in my text for power restoration was two hours. There may also be a problem with their individual service line or their meter. As part of this commitment, the company engaged with stakeholders to create a series of. But several customers told the Observer they were without power for longer, piling on sweaters and blankets in their homes during one of the coldest days that North Carolina has seen in decades. North Carolina trooper fatally shoots stranded driver who opened fire on him, authorities say, Body of missing boater recovered from Lake Norman, searchers say. The companys economic development team helped attract 29,000 new jobs and $23 billion in capital investment to its service territories. Action 9 asked Duke Energy about the problem, and it agreed with AT&T. Duke Energy officials believe Gantt had a loose wire . A Duke Energy spokesman said the charge for choosing not to use a smart meter is $150, plus $11.75 a month to cover the costs associated with having a worker read the meter every month. Dozens of complaints have flooded in from customers about unusually high power bills, some double, triple of what they were in December. Airplane*. Utility companies like Duke Energy plan out a certain amount of generating capacity based on projected peaks in demand during summer and winter, said Robert Cox, an assistant professor in UNC Charlottes electrical engineering department. I was out running errands the other day when my phone buzzed. ", When it comes to Duke Energy, spokesman Jeff Brooks said: "The culprit this time of year is usage and we are going to see that's the trend for another five to six weeks as we get through the cold of winter.". Duke Energy reporting 2,000 customers without power in Greenville, Thousands of dollars in merchandise stolen from Inman business, Red, White and Boom in downtown Spartanburg, July 4th festivities hampered by evening storms in downtown Greenville, Greenville shoots off fireworks during their Fireworks on the Fourth event, Police: 1 arrested for DUI following 4-car crash in Greenville, kelli.radcliff@foxcarolina.com - 864-213-2103. Duke Energy has a rather high debt to EBITDA ratio of 5.8 which suggests a meaningful debt load. Proxy Statement for 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Hannah Lang covered banking, finance and economic equity for The Charlotte Observer from 2021 to 2023. Frustrated renters hope changes to NC assistance program quicken approvals. How vulnerable is North Carolinas power grid? Now, they're saying multiple generators did not respond ahead of rolling blackouts that impacted half a million people over the weekend. I have an indoor water heater and it is wrapped with attic insulation and set at 120 degrees. AT&T said Gantt had an electrical problem before the crew began work. MVP Southgate wants more time to build NC pipeline. Carbon Plan hearing to include a federal report they claim Duke Energy sat on that shows it can most economically achieve carbon-reduction . But if that demand is higher than expected or, for some reason, the company cant generate enough power to meet it rolling blackouts offer a way to shrink demand and prevent a bigger crisis. They even had social media posts ready. Duke Energy rolling blackouts on Christmas Eve. Duke Energy initially blamed colder-than-expected temps and higher-than-expected demand, but experts agree that would not be enough to cause the widespread "load-shedding" the utility implemented on Christmas Eve. Calling the automated outage-reporting system: Duke Energy Carolinas: 800.769.3766. The entire eastern seaboard was probably under very heavy duress (with the winter weather), Chowdhury said. NC Utility Commission attorneys who represent energy consumers, known as the Public Staff, confirmed that multiple generating units were offline or not responding at the time of the outages. Contact: Shawna Berger
But the utility now says that unresponsive generating units played a role in the power shortage that led the company to begin rolling outages on Dec. 24 with little notice to residents. Duke Energy said they began short, temporary power outages due to the frigid temperatures. Confirm or CHANGE STATE {DB9657AE-8662-4CE8-BEF6-67362F9E785F} Welcome to Duke Energy. Rhonda Brown of Harnett County tells 5 . Ifit is a water service emergency after 5 p.m. or on a weekend, please call (828) 891-7779. "We haven't seen a large increase in renewables yet on the grid. Last year, the company assisted nearly 189,000 customers with more than $192 million in energy assistance and, since 2021, has helped connect customers to nearly $300 million in energy assistance. Crews will work throughout Tuesday evening and overnight again, the company said. Tyler Norris, a Raleigh-based executive at a solar power company, plotted the data for Dukes combined entities in a graph he shared on Twitter. But it's unusual that energy generation from natural gas one of Duke Energy's primary fuels would drop from nearly 10,000 to about 6,000 megawatt hours during the outages. The best way to look at changes between monthly bills is by comparing increases or decreases in energy use, which is impacted significantly by weather. Duke Energy continues to decarbonize to meet its climate goals. Welcome to Duke Energy. Duke Energy will provide power restoration time estimates once there is more information from damage assessment, but extended outages are possible in the hardest hit areas, according to the news release. We believed that we had adequate resources heading into the weekend to meet customer demand for electricity, he said. Crews worked through the night to make repairs but damage is severe and widespread. Data source is @EIAgov: https://t.co/ualGCiAjBq pic.twitter.com/v87Ey6793V. UNCC electrical engineering professor Badrul Chowdhury added that Duke Energy works with neighboring power companies like Dominion in Virginia and Atlanta-based Southern Company to share power when necessary. Preparation and planning start really before the storm hits in most cases, Brooks said. NC begins Carowinds roller coaster review after rare crack found. About 500,000 Duke Energy customers lost power during the blackouts. City of Hendersonville, NC 160 Sixth Avenue E Hendersonville, NC28792 828.697.3000, Advisory Boards, Commissions and Committees, Meeting Agendas and Minutes (2020 - Present), Document Archive (Historic Minutes 1933-2019, Documents, Resolutions, Annexations, and other Files), Ecusta Rail Trail Planning Study & Economic Impact Analysis, Contractor Request for Inspection, Sampling or Verification, *NEW* City of Hendersonville Heritage Tree Storymap, Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination, Water and Sewer Technical Advisory Committee, City Hall and City Operations Construction Updates, Etowah Water System Improvements Project & Etowah Area Boil Water Advisories. Duke Energy is leveraging Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) benefits and incorporating them into integrated resource plans and rate adjustments across jurisdictions. "Funds used to support assistance programs to help customers who are struggling to pay power bills come from the Duke Energy Foundation or other voluntary contributions, not from the utility or customer rates," Brooks said. Its always a good idea, however, for customers to tell Duke Energy when their power goes out. Falling tree kills wife canoeing on river, injures husband and a child, NC officials say, CMPD: Expect road closures, heavy traffic in uptown for Fourth of July fireworks, Wounded toddler found with 2 adults shot to death in home, North Carolina cops say. Early Tuesday, the number was down to 95,000. . This week alone, the Troubleshooter has received more than 100 emails from viewers who saw unusually high bills. Duke Energy has more than 4 million power poles between North and South Carolina so they can't inspect every single pole, which is why they rely on the public to report any poles they are. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (CA). Duke Energy Corporation. There was some difficulty in evaluating or examining the information or data present on the duke-energy.com. Heres what we know. You can sign up for additional alert options at any time. Duke Energy's Billing Department has completed their review and the account has been corrected. Customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways: Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). Though my outage occurred on a sunny day, recent rains had softened the ground and led to an aged tree falling on a power line. Instead, it was a text message from Duke Energy alerting me that an outage had been identified in my neighborhood and power might be out at my home. 2023 Proxy Statement & Annual Report. Seekins is not alone with the sticker shock when it comes to his electric bill. Our business strategy is creating value for our employees, customers and communities while at the same time mitigating the potential risks associated with our business, said Katherine Neebe, Duke Energys chief sustainability and philanthropy officer. The purple lights across North Carolina are the result of a "bad batch" of LED bulbs from a certain manufacturing partner. All rights reserved. But its unusual that energy generation from natural gas one of Duke Energys primary fuels would drop from nearly 10,000 to about 6,000 megawatt hours during the outages. In addition, a dedicated team worked with more than 1,400 community assistance agencies to disperse important energy assistance funds. We had three layers of woolen clothes on, I was under two heavy duvets and my nose was still ice cold, one Durham resident told the Observer. That can take days to recover from," Reed said. That's what Troubleshooter Diane Wilson continues to hear from frustrated consumers when it comes to their power bills. Her power went out at about 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve, when it was 10 degrees outside. And the company continues to work alongside stakeholders to introduce new programs and policies to generate savings and lower the cost of the energy transition. Laura Leslie , WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief Duke Energy now admits several generating units were either offline or not responding during the rolling blackouts Christmas eve. Our priority is always to restore service as quickly and safely as possible, and we appreciate our customers patience," said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar in a news release. Duke Energy Corporation. January 1, 2023. When calling after hours, press "2" to be connected. CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) had its best year ever for adding renewable energy as the company posted a 20% jump in wind and solar power in 2021. This week alone, the Troubleshooter has received more than 100 emails from viewers with similar stories. A statement on the company's website warns customers that restoration times may take longer than initially expected. The support team may have poor customer service skills, lack of training, or not be well-equipped to handle customer complaints. Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane . Were in full storm restoration mode.". Cox suspects that because of freezing temperatures, some of Duke Energys equipment produced less power than expected throughout the morning, diminishing the supply of energy as demand hit its peak. "It wasn't renewables that failed. Downdetector only reports an incident when the number of problem reports is significantly higher . So it's not as if Duke is under-resourced. But when demand was higher than expected, Brooks said the utility was unable to get power from neighboring states who were also experiencing extreme cold. Duke Energy has told state regulators renewable are unreliable, so it will need to build more gas power plants to maintain the stability of the grid. The majority of impacted customers are in Hamilton, Warren, and Butler counties. We will provide more specific estimates as we progress throughout the day. "I do not celebrate Christmas, hence no light. Update 6:00 p.m.: About 52,000 customers are still without power as of Tuesday evening. If you suspect a call may be a scam, hang up, call the police and contact Duke Energy directly at . Duke Energy. Matt Abele with the NC Sustainable Energy Association says the transition to green energy is just getting underway here. We want customers to report their outages, Brooks said. Trees are part of the natural beauty of the areas in which we live, but fallen trees and tree limbs are also a leading cause of outages, said Brooks. At the peak of the outages on Monday, there were more than 166,000 people without power. Video shows the process for restoring power. Heres what happens when your power goes out. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Triangle Business Journal and the Greensboro News & Record. Duke Energy now admits several generating units were either offline or not responding during the rolling blackouts Christmas eve. Some additional generation was reduced overnight as a result of weather.. The company expanded its net-zero by 2050 goal to include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions, becoming one of the first in the industry to tie more than 95% of emissions to a net-zero commitment. The company continues to prioritize reliable service for its customers and communities by modernizing its grid. Often customers have their power restored before that time.. Theres still a lot we dont know about what exactly happened that morning, he noted. With today's temperatures, please stay safe by making arrangements to keep cool and/or stay with family or friends until power is restored," the statement read. The estimated time for restoration is by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. Duke Energy will also have to brief regulators on the outages at a meeting of the N.C. Utilities Commission on Tuesday. If you are reporting a problem with your water service please contact (828) 697-3052. TELL THE OBSERVER: Did you lose power in rolling blackouts? Please select your state. (352) 793-3801 Report Online. When youre talking 4.5 million customers across the Carolinas, a cumulative increase in demand can add up quickly.. Thelen said the storms that came through caused widespread damage. In Butler County, there are about 12,600 impacted customers. According to Duke Energy, the outage was first reported just after 10 a.m. in the Wade Hampton Boulevard area. Accurate . Duke Energy said power should be restored for all Greater Cincinnati customers by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. He says he reached out to Duke Energy. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today released its 17th annual report outlining its approach to sustainability topics. Texting OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). Outage Map. Report an Outage. Big Poultry: Five takeaways from investigating North Carolinas secretive ag industry, Trooper stops to help stranded driver and gets shot in the chest, NC cops say. "The larger the difference between the outside temperature and the thermostat setting of a home, the more energy it takes to keep it warm at the desired setting. View Outage Map. Please select your state. The company is bringing in additional personnel from Ohio, Kentucky and the Carolinas. What you should and shouldn't be doing during a power outage, indy.gov/activity/indy-parks-family-centers, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke Energy owns 58,200 megawatts of base-load and peak generation in the United States, which it distributes to its 7.2 million customers. But there was no advance notice to customers before the outages started. When I lost power, I learned how Duke Energy manages service interruptions and keeps customers informed. Customers can report power outages by: Consider all downed power lines and anything touching them energized. Customers can call 800-769-3766 or visit Duke Energy's website here to report an outage. "This was a storm like we haven't seen in 10 years," she said. Our balanced pace of change will enable a future that offers reliable, accessible and affordable energy for all customers and areas we serve.. File a formal complaint. Visit their webpage for contact information. "People are home all day, every day so their usage patterns may be different than they were a year ago at this time and that could all contribute potentially to higher electric bills," Brooks said. Report Power Outage (Duke Energy) Report a State-Maintained Road Problem (NCDOT) You may also send feedback and/or suggestions for the Mayor and City Council. A representative says the colder weather is the primary driver. "When temperatures drop, more energy is needed to keep the inside of our homes warm," the representative said. Customers, If it's a storm-related outage, that begins with our team of meteorologists that forecast the storms track and potential impacts. Meanwhile, Duke's solar output on Dec 24 was 1.6X the daily avg over the prior month. Duke Energy's app makes it easy to report an outage and review your information. Community and Stewardship, Please use the Citizen Reporter App to report any non-emergency issues or problems with any City service. "The public deserves to know what was down and why," Carmody says. The trooper fired back, killing the driver, investigators say. The customer currently has a credit balance of $-360.35 that will be applied to the next bill. On February 2, 2014, a release of coal ash into the Dan River occurred at the Dan River Steam Station (Duke Energy) north of Eden, N.C. creating the Eden Ash Spill Site. You may also send feedback and/or suggestions for the Mayor and City Council. The company has brought in extra resources from out of state to assist in restoring power across Indiana, said AES spokesperson Kelly Young. And so when a hurricane hits or a major winter storm comes through the area, we put on our restoration hats and we go to work. Update 8:00 p.m.: There are about 36,000 customers without power, according to the Duke Energy outage map. Chris Carmody leads the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association. Update 1:50 p.m.: Approximately 76,000 customers in the Cincinnati regionare still without power after severe stormsand strong winds hit the area Monday night. HVAC is off. Lines are downand removing vegetation and downedtrees and replacing broken poles takes time. The Duke Energy outage map shows that crews are assessing the damage in many areas and restoration efforts are underway. The companys carbon emissions from electric generation are down 44% since 2005, and it is well-positioned to exceed its Scope 1 2030 goal of a 50% reduction. Duke Energy. The report recommended a more comprehensive examination like the one . The study found the companys plan will support more than 20,000 additional direct, indirect and induced jobs annually during that period and produce $250 billion in economic output throughout the U.S. economy due to jobs, income paid to workers and payments made to suppliers. But some units did not generate power or operated at reduced capacity in the pre-dawn hours on Christmas Eve, spokesman Bill Norton told the Observer on Thursday. 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Another culprit for the higher bills is the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper recommends increased unemployment benefits, bonuses for educators in COVID-19 budget plan, "They sat it was due to the cold and Christmas lights. Duke Energy and state regulators are now saying more than one generating unit failed to respond when it was called upon to supply extra power during the rolling blackouts that impacted half a million people over the weekend. Knowing where your account is located will help us serve you better. One push on my opener and in I went. Customers can report power outages by: Logging on to the Duke Energy mobile app or duke-energy.com. "The first thing we were told is we must have something wrong with our unit," she said. By providing your email address below, you are providing consent to Duke Energy Corporation to send you the requested Investor Email Alert updates. And this really is ironic, that, you know, their system failed with their own projections, they have complete control of it, and it was likely gas generators that failed," says Carmody. ", A Duke Energy customer emailed: "Light bill for a house that's 1,556 square feet, ad the thermostat set between 67/68 with no Christmas lights plugged in 24/7 was $409! Gov. I do laundry once a week using cold water and hang clothes on the line. 2023 Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. After the 2021 winter blackout in Texas that killed more than 200 people, regulators in North Carolina required utilities to report on their winter weather preparedness. If you encounter a downed traffic signal or a limb blocking a roadway, contact the Mayor's Action . They did not have details on the exact number of units affected or what percentage of Dukes generating capacity they represented. "This is important to note because while the WPCA credit has no impact on January bills, reduced December bills make the dollar difference between December and January bills seem that much more significant. The company said nearly 100 utility poles have needed replacement so far. Duke Energy offers what's known as High Bill Alerts, if you sign up, you get alerts when weather may be causing your bill to trend higher than the last month. The majority of our generating units performed as expected. The ABC11 First Alert Weather team crunched the numbers and they say this January was on average 41 degrees, while January 2020 it was 46.9. The storms, which brought 60-70 mph winds,took down numerous trees, powerlines and poles, according to Duke Energy. And they're a tiny, tiny percentage of the grid," says Carmody. Make sure your HVAC system is cleaned and running efficiently, also adjust your thermostat, the recommended setting is 68 degrees in the winter, Programmable thermostats are a great tool to control energy use and allow you to adjust the temperature of your home on a preset schedule, bringing the temperature down while you're away at work or school, and then automatically back up at a controlled rate for when you return home, Consider upgrading to LED bulbs, they use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than normal bulbs. Duke Energy told regulators it had a plan to keep customers informed if rolling blackouts were needed. Indy Parks Family Centers will be available as cooling locations on Friday and Saturday. On Twitter, Cooper said that he wanted Duke Energy to provide him a complete report on what went wrong and for changes to be made.. At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. The company has approximately 29,000 employees. Form 10-K. More:Beat the heat at Cincinnati-area cooling centers and public pools. Other prime causes of outages are animals interfering with lines and equipment and, in urban areas, cars hitting utility poles. Customers can report outages by texting OUT to 57801, using the Duke Energy mobile app (available for free download) at duke-energy.com/outages or by calling the toll-free number. In Hamilton . The company was also counting on generation from independent power producers and out-of-state energy purchases that fell through as other providers were similarly slammed by extreme weather, Norton said. The flagship Impact Report highlights the companys goals, performance and progress on strategic business priorities and allows stakeholders to chart the companys progress. 2022 Annual Report Site. The majority of the outages are in Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties. You can unsubscribe to any of the . News you need: What you should and shouldn't be doing during a power outage. As of 1 p.m. on Saturday, Duke Energy said they ended rotating outages and are working to restore customers impacted. It also enables us to better plan where to place crews and resources ahead of the storm, so they can quickly respond.. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. "Everybody in the country knew one to two weeks in advance what temperatures we were going to have, and where we were going to have them," he says. Its kind of perplexing. Crews from Indiana, South Carolina, North Carolinaand Michigan have arrived to assist with damage assessment and restoration. WRAL, in Raleigh, first reported the generator problems on Wednesday. She said the power company will be setting up staging areas today and crews arefocused on getting power restored as quickly as possible. In the middle of Duke's Dec 24 blackouts, Duke's gas gen fell off starting 8am, dropping ~3.5 GW by 3pm. Duke Energy. The flagship Impact Report highlights the company's goals, performance and progress on strategic business priorities and allows stakeholders to chart the company's progress. He believes the problem may have been more serious than Duke Energy is saying. In order to provide stakeholders a comprehensive view of the companys disclosures, this year, included in the appendix of the Impact Report is the Trade Association Climate Review, Global Reporting Index and Sustainable Accounting Standards Board information. 2022 was a remarkable year in many respects. Click on your state to save or print your cheat sheet: Still working on your emergency kit? Last year, Duke Energy made investments to lower fuel costs and reduce price volatility to benefit customers. Also, check utility assistance programs, there are several offered right now, that could help you pay your bills.