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The company continues to proactively notify customers of tips, tools and assistance available to help manage bills.
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Piedmont estimates that its residential customer’s average monthly natural gas bill will increase by about $30 to $35 per month over the coming winter.
CHARLOTTE, NC – With seasonally cold weather on the horizon, Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding customers of the tips, tools and assistance programs available to help customers prepare for higher winter bills.
“External factors like rising natural gas costs and colder temperatures are driving up energy bills this winter, and we’re here to help,” said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “We’re constantly working to mitigate any price increases and keep costs down, and we’re reminding customers of tips, tools and programs that can help lower their natural gas bills.”
The Energy Information Administration recently reported in its Winter Fuel Outlook, average household spending on home heating fuels will increase this winter due to expected higher fuel costs and higher energy consumption. due to cooler temperatures. Piedmont estimates that its residential customer’s average monthly natural gas bill will increase by about $30 to $35 per month over the coming winter.
As a natural gas distributor, Piedmont buys natural gas at the best possible price, which is the same price it charges customers. The Company closely monitors the cost of natural gas and requires adjustments to its rates throughout the year based on changing market conditions and other factors.
Low or no cost energy saving tips and projectss
Natural gas usage typically spikes in the winter as customers battle freezing temperatures to stay warm. Below are tips to help manage energy use when temperatures drop. B-roll of energy efficiency measures available here.
- Learn how to reduce energy use. The first step to reducing energy use in your home is to identify and prioritize energy-saving improvements. This can be achieved through a certified auditor or by performing your own energy audit.
- Close the air ducts. Make sure the air ducts from your home’s furnace and central air conditioner are properly sealed. Leaky ducts in your attic or crawl space can significantly increase your heating and cooling bills.
- Seal your home. One of the fastest energy-saving tasks you can do is to seal, seal, and wipe all seams, cracks, and openings from the outside. This can save 10% to 20% on your heating and cooling bills.
- Install smart thermostats. Installing a “smart” or programmable thermostat will reduce your energy use when you’re asleep or away. Set the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting to help save.
- Manage water heating. Set the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or consider installing an on-demand or tankless water heater that heats water only when you need it.
- Consider insulation. Consider whether you need to add insulation to your ceilings, floors and walls. Insulation between indoor and outdoor spaces reduces energy demand, saving you money and improving the comfort of your home.
Level your bill with the Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program.
This free service helps customers manage their budgets by eliminating high winter bills. The EPP program levels out a customer’s natural gas bills, allowing them to pay a predictable, even monthly amount to help avoid billing surprises. Piedmont determines this payment by adding up a customer’s annual natural gas usage and then dividing it into the same payment amount each month. Learn more here.
“We remain committed to helping our most vulnerable customers keep warm, whether that’s a resource for the steps they need to take to lower their natural gas bill, or by taking advantage of available assistance options,” Weintraub added.
Assistance to customers in need
Piedmont is reaching out to customers whose bills are overdue via email and/or text with information about assistance with utilities administered by agencies in their state and local communities.
Share the Warmth provides funding to local agencies to help families with their utility bills, regardless of the energy source they use.
The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) provides winter heating assistance to pay for the natural gas, electric and other methods that customers use to heat their homes. There are many customers who are eligible but don’t apply for this annual federal benefit that can reduce winter heating costs for low-income families. Information on how to apply locally: https://thda.org/business-partners/liheap
Piedmont says anyone in need should apply for this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For detailed federal and state-specific information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.
Energy saving tools
Piedmont Natural Gas also offers a variety of energy saving tools to help our customers and communities identify ways to save money and energy throughout the year. These programs and tools help customers understand what factors are affecting their natural gas bills and highlight specific actions they can take to reduce the impacts of high winter usage.
Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, distributes natural gas to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Piedmont is routinely recognized by JD Power for excellent customer satisfaction and named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. More information: piedmontng.com. Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: I tweetFacebook.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is one of America’s largest energy companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and together own 50,000 megawatts of power capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 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 electricity generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain upstream and downstream Scope 3 emissions by 2035, and 80% from electricity generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major improvements to the electricity grid and energy storage, and is exploring zero-emission energy generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” and Forbes’ “World’s Best Employers.” More information can be found at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center features news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy Lighting features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy at I tweetLinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
