The power company shared energy-saving tips for cutting down on costs during cold weather.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy set a new power usage record on Thursday, during a major cold snap that gripped the Carolinas.
Parts of the Carolinas had about 65 hours of freezing or below freezing temperatures beginning Jan. 20. That’s a level of chill the area has not experienced since January 2018.
Duke Energy said it delivered 37,387 megawatt-hours of electricity on Thursday, alone.
The record-breaking power consumption on Thursday surpassed the previous mark of 36,670 megawatt-hours set in February 2015.
Ben Harrison, Duke Energy’s vice president of grid operations, praised the company’s level of preparation and the workforce.
“I commend the efforts of the crews at our power plants, in grid control rooms and in the field across the region for their work around the clock,” Harrison said. “We had a strong plan in place and have worked to help ensure we can reliably serve our customers in all types of weather.”
The company offered energy-saving tips for customers seeking to manage their electricity consumption during cold weather in order to cut down on costs.
Ways to save energy and money as temperatures drop:
- During the winter, reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting.
- Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second-biggest user of energy in your home, the utility said.
- Leave drapes or blinds open on the sunny side of the home to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help insulate your home.
- Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction in the winter to push warm air back down into the room.
- Cover drafty windows. Use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames during the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
- Install tight-fitting, insulating drapes or shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing.
