Duke Energy thanks customers for help managing the power grid through hot temperatures

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has set a new preliminary summer usage record of 35,269 MWh on June 24, 2025, surpassing the previous summer record of 34,439 MWh from July 2024. The achievement comes amid triple-digit temperatures in the Carolinas, where customers helped manage peak demand through conservation efforts.

Over 521,000 Carolinas customers participated in demand response programs during June 23-24. The company relies on a diverse energy mix including nuclear, natural gas, hydro, renewables, and coal to meet high demand periods. Duke Energy continues to expand its portfolio with plans for solar, energy storage, and new natural gas plants over the next five years.

The company has also outlined various energy-saving programs and initiatives for customers, including home energy assessments, rebates for equipment upgrades, and payment assistance options.

Positive

• New summer peak usage record of 35,269 MWh demonstrates strong grid capacity
• Strong customer participation with 521,000+ enrolled in demand response programs
• Diverse energy mix helps ensure reliable power supply during peak demand
• Planned expansion of solar, energy storage, and natural gas facilities over next 5 years

Negative

• Increasing peak demand puts pressure on grid infrastructure
• Triple-digit temperatures required customer conservation measures
• Continued reliance on coal as part of energy mix

Insights

Utilities Sector Analyst

Duke Energy set a new summer usage record amid heat wave, demonstrating grid resilience while highlighting its capacity expansion strategy.

Duke Energy has just set a preliminary new summer usage record of 35,269 megawatt-hours on June 24, surpassing last year's record by 2.4%. This demonstrates the increasing demand pressures on the utility's infrastructure during extreme weather events. What's particularly noteworthy is that despite this surge, the company successfully managed grid operations without major disruptions, partly thanks to customer participation in demand response programs.

The record still falls below the all-time peak of 37,260 megawatt-hours set in January 2025, confirming that winter peaks continue to exceed summer demands in Duke's service territories. This seasonal pattern is critical for capacity planning and infrastructure investment decisions.

Duke's strategy of maintaining a diverse energy portfolio—including nuclear, natural gas, hydro, renewables, and coal—proved effective during this high-demand period. Their forward-looking capacity expansion plan, which includes adding solar, energy storage, and new natural gas plants over the next five years, aligns with both reliability needs and regional economic development goals.

The customer engagement angle shouldn't be overlooked—over 521,000 Carolinas customers participated in demand response programs during the heat wave. This significant enrollment level (representing a substantial portion of their customer base) demonstrates effective customer engagement and provides Duke with valuable demand-side management capabilities that reduce the need for additional peaking capacity investments.

From an operational perspective, this event validates Duke's grid management capabilities under stress conditions, while highlighting the ongoing necessity of their diversified generation approach as they navigate the energy transition balance between reliability and cleaner energy sources.

• Duke Energy sets preliminary new combined utility system summer usage record; 35,269 MWh on June 24, 2025.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As summer's first heat wave brought triple-digit temperatures to parts of North Carolina and South Carolina this week, Duke Energy thanks customers for conserving energy during periods of peak demand.

"We appreciate our customers' support this week to reduce their electricity use during the hottest parts of the day," said Ben Harrison, Duke Energy vice president of grid operations – planning and operations. "We understand it can be inconvenient, but those actions made a significant difference for all. I am also grateful for our crews and grid and plant operators that managed through this event."

Customers set a summertime record for electricity usage as this week's heat wave drove up energy demand.

The new summer peak usage record is 35,269 megawatt-hours of electricity set on June 24, 2025 – exceeding the previous summertime record of 34,439 megawatt-hours, set on July 9, 2024. Duke Energy's combined utility all-time record peak is 37,260 megawatt-hours, set earlier this year on Jan. 23, 2025. 

Duke Energy relies on a diverse energy mix to meet growing energy needs across the state. That mix includes nuclear, efficient natural gas, hydro, renewables and coal, all of which are needed when demand for electricity is high. The company continues to add solar and energy storage with plans for new natural gas plants over the next five years to support growth and economic development.

As summer continues, energy efficiency is important year-round to save money on your electric bill. When temperatures are hot, it is a key time to make small adjustments to manage energy use to help save and avoid bill surprises.

Tips to save energy and money

• Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. Even a couple of degrees can help save energy and money. Keep in mind: Your system will run longer – using more energy – the hotter it is outside even if your thermostat setting never changes.
• Use cooler water for washing clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a laundry load's energy use in half.
• Run heat-producing appliances during cooler morning hours for additional savings.
• Close curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home to help prevent the sun from heating your home.
• Operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction in the summer, which pushes cooler air back down into the room.

Between June 23 and June 24, Duke Energy received support from more than 521,000 Carolinas customers enrolled in the company's customer demand response programs. This allowed Duke Energy to help manage peak demand during the warmest parts of the day.

Savings programs and incentives 

• Get a free home energy assessment. Customers receive a free energy efficiency kit, customized usage report, low-cost tips and expert recommendations to help them see energy savings by signing up for our free Home Energy House Call.
• Need an upgrade? Customers can take advantage of rebates for equipment like HVAC systems, hot water heaters and pool pumps as well as upgrades like attic insulation through our Smart $aver^® program.
• Get paid for shifting energy use. Customers can receive a credit on their bill for automatically shifting their energy use to times when demand for energy is lower. Enroll your smart thermostat in our Power Manager^® (Duke Energy Carolinas customers)/EnergyWise^® Home (Duke Energy Progress customers) program.

Payment assistance

• Installment Payment Plans can help customers who need flexibility with paying their energy bills.
• Duke Energy works with local and state agencies to connect qualified customers with access to resources, including Share the Light Fund^® and Low Income Home Energy Assistance programs.
• Visit our Special Assistance page for more information.

For more ways to save, visit duke-energy.com/SummerSavings.

Duke Energy 

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

24-Hour: 800.559.3853 

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What was Duke Energy's new summer usage record set on June 24, 2025?

Duke Energy set a new summer usage record of 35,269 megawatt-hours, exceeding the previous summer record of 34,439 megawatt-hours from July 2024.

How many Duke Energy customers participated in demand response programs during the heat wave?

Over 521,000 Carolinas customers enrolled in Duke Energy's demand response programs participated between June 23-24, 2025.

What is Duke Energy's all-time peak usage record?

Duke Energy's all-time peak usage record is 37,260 megawatt-hours, set on January 23, 2025.

What energy sources does Duke Energy (DUK) use to meet peak demand?

Duke Energy relies on a diverse energy mix including nuclear, efficient natural gas, hydro, renewables, and coal to meet high demand periods.

What expansion plans does Duke Energy have for the next five years?

Duke Energy plans to add solar and energy storage facilities, along with new natural gas plants over the next five years to support growth and economic development.