Low temperatures drive higher energy use; Duke Energy is here to help with ways to manage your bill

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) warns that an unusually long cold stretch in the Carolinas — about 10–20°F below normal and several days at or below freezing — is pushing home heating use and bills higher. The company outlines energy-saving tips, smart-thermostat credits, time-of-use options and multiple payment assistance resources to help customers manage costs during the cold period.

Key customer programs include a $150 initial smart-thermostat bill credit plus $50 annually, a Flex Savings time-of-use rate, pick-your-due-date and installment plans; resources and assistance are available at duke-energy.com/WinterEnergySavings.

Positive

• Smart thermostat credit: $150 initial bill credit and $50 annual reward
• Flex Savings time-of-use rate to lower costs by shifting usage off-peak
• Multiple payment options: pick due date, extensions, and installment plans
• Payment Assistance Finder and Share the Light Fund available for qualifying customers

Negative

• Prolonged cold 10–20°F below typical driving higher residential heating use
• Several days at or below freezing could lead to materially higher customer energy bills
• Possible snow and the longest cold stretch since January 2018 may strain household budgets

Key Figures

Temperature deviation: 10–20 degrees below typical Smart thermostat credit: $150 initial bill credit Annual thermostat reward: $50 annually +5 more

8 metrics

Temperature deviation 10–20 degrees below typical Cold stretch in the Carolinas

Smart thermostat credit $150 initial bill credit Enrollment in Power Manager®/EnergyWise® Home

Annual thermostat reward $50 annually Ongoing smart thermostat participation

Thermostat adjustment No more than 4 degrees During peak demand events

Adjustment duration 1–2 hours Typical peak-demand adjustment window

Electric customers 8.6 million Electric utilities customer base

Energy capacity 55,100 megawatts Owned generation capacity

Gas customers 1.7 million Natural gas utilities customer base

Market Reality Check

Price: $120.24 Vol: Volume 4,458,879 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$120.24 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,458,879 vs 20-day average 3,663,997 ahead of this weather-focused update. normal

Technical Price 120.24 is trading slightly below the 200-day MA at 120.37.

Peers on Argus

While DUK is nearly flat (-0.04%), key peers like SO (-0.41%), AEP (-0.11%), D (...

While DUK is nearly flat (-0.04%), key peers like SO (-0.41%), AEP (-0.11%), D (-0.54%), and EXC (-0.02%) saw modest declines, with NGG up 0.54%, suggesting stock-specific rather than broad sector action.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 26 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 26	Storm restoration update	Positive	+1.1%	Restoration of 131,059 customers and continued response to storm outages.
Jan 25	Outage impact update	Negative	+1.1%	Rising outages and warnings of prolonged impacts from Winter Storm Fern.
Jan 23	Storm preparation	Neutral	-0.2%	Mobilization of 18,000+ workers ahead of expected storm damage.
Jan 22	Storm risk warning	Negative	-1.4%	Warning of potential multiday outages from incoming winter storm conditions.
Jan 16	Customer savings tips	Neutral	+0.3%	Piedmont Natural Gas tips and programs to manage higher winter heating bills.

Pattern Detected

Recent weather-related updates often see modest price alignment, whether highlighting outage risks or restoration progress.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, Duke Energy has issued multiple updates tied to Winter Storm Fern and cold weather in the Carolinas. Releases on Jan. 22–26 detailed preparations, mobilization of over 18,000 workers, widespread outages and subsequent restoration to over 131,000 customers. A Jan. 16 Piedmont Natural Gas update focused on tips to manage higher heating bills. Today’s announcement similarly centers on extended cold, elevated energy use and customer billing and assistance options, continuing this customer-focused, weather-related communication pattern.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf · $4,000,000,000

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-09-30

$4,000,000,000 registered capacity

An effective Form S-3ASR dated 2025-09-30 registers up to $4,000,000,000 of PremierNotes, with a maximum net aggregate principal outstanding of $2,000,000,000. The notes are unsecured, floating-rate demand instruments, and a 424B3 filing on 2025-12-22 updated interest tiers and reduced rates by 0.25% per annum.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights an unusually long cold stretch driving higher energy use, with Duke Ene...

Analysis

This announcement highlights an unusually long cold stretch driving higher energy use, with Duke Energy offering thermostat rewards, a time-of-use rate option and flexible billing tools to help manage winter bills. It follows recent storm and cold-weather communications in January that stressed preparedness, outage restoration and customer assistance. Investors may watch how extended low temperatures affect usage trends, bad debt, and the uptake of programs like smart thermostat rewards and time-of-use rates across Duke’s 8.6 million-customer base.

Key Terms

smart thermostat, time-of-use rate

2 terms

smart thermostat technical

"Smart thermostat rewards – Get $150 through an initial bill credit..."

A smart thermostat is a heating and cooling controller that connects to the internet and learns user preferences to automatically adjust temperature, can be controlled remotely by a phone, and often uses sensors and schedules to save energy. For investors it matters because these devices can reduce utility bills for consumers, create ongoing service or data revenue for makers, and act as an entry point into broader smart-home ecosystems that drive sales and customer loyalty.

time-of-use rate financial

"Flex Savings Option (time-of-use rate) – Lower your energy costs..."

A time-of-use rate is a pricing plan for electricity where the cost per kilowatt-hour changes depending on the time of day—higher during busy “peak” hours and lower during quiet “off-peak” hours. Think of it like surge pricing for power: it rewards using electricity when demand is low and charges more when the grid is strained. Investors care because these rates change customer behavior, affect utility revenues and profit margins, and influence demand for batteries, energy efficiency, and renewable projects, which can shift long-term cash flow and capital needs.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

•  Prolonged cold – several days at or below freezing – is driving higher energy use
•  Duke Energy is here to help with energy-saving tips, flexible billing, savings programs and assistance resources

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Prolonged below-normal temperatures are pushing home energy use higher across the Carolinas – and higher use can mean higher bills. Duke Energy is sharing practical steps and flexible options to help customers manage costs during this cold stretch.

What's happening: The Carolinas are experiencing an unusually long stretch of cold weather, with several days of temperatures at or below freezing – about 10 to 20 degrees below what's typical for this time of year.

• It could be the longest cold stretch since January 2018.
• Snow accumulation is also possible on Saturday, underscoring the rarity of this extended weather event.

Why it matters: When temperatures stay low, heating systems run longer to maintain comfort – the primary driver of higher home energy use.

We're here to help: Here are simple steps and flexible options to help you save energy and take control of your bill during this extended cold stretch.

Tips to help you save: Small actions can add up.

• Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting.
• Seal leaks and insulate to keep warm air inside.
• Let the sun help heat your home by opening blinds and curtains during the day and closing them at night.
• Operate ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down.

Rates & rewards

• Smart thermostat rewards – Get $150 through an initial bill credit and $50 annually after that when you enroll a qualifying smart thermostat in Power Manager^®/EnergyWise^® Home. Participants agree to brief adjustments to their thermostat temperature, no more than 4 degrees, typically for one to two hours during periods of peak electricity demand.
• Flex Savings Option (time-of-use rate) – Lower your energy costs by shifting some energy use to off-peak times.

Take control of how you pay: Explore your payment options.

• Pick Your Due Date – Choose the date your monthly bill is due to align with payday.
• Due Date Extensions – If you know you won't be able to pay by the due date, request a short extension.
• Installment Plans – Break down payments on a past-due balance over time.

Need more help? 

• Payment Assistance Finder – Locate local organizations that offer utility bill assistance.
• Share the Light Fund^® – Community and company contributions that help qualifying customers pay energy bills.
• Call 211 – Get connected to additional community resources in your area.

For more information and to get started, visit duke-energy.com/WinterEnergySavings.

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

How does the Duke Energy (DUK) smart thermostat credit work during the Jan 2026 cold stretch?

You get a $150 initial bill credit and $50 annually for an eligible smart thermostat. According to the company, enrollment in Power Manager/EnergyWise allows brief adjustments up to 4°F for one to two hours during peak demand, enabling the credits.

What is the Flex Savings Option (time-of-use rate) Duke Energy (DUK) is offering for winter 2026?

Flex Savings lets customers lower costs by shifting energy use to off-peak times. According to the company, this time-of-use rate incentivizes moving flexible loads away from peak hours to reduce winter bills.

What payment help does Duke Energy (DUK) provide if I can't pay my bill during the cold period?

Duke Energy offers pick-your-due-date, short due-date extensions and installment plans to manage payments. According to the company, these options help households align bills with cash flow and spread past-due balances over time.

How can Duke Energy (DUK) customers find local utility bill assistance in January 2026?

Use the Payment Assistance Finder or call 211 to locate local help and community resources. According to the company, the Share the Light Fund and local organizations can provide qualifying customers with bill-payment support.

Why is Duke Energy (DUK) advising customers about higher energy use in late January 2026?

Unusually long cold weather — about 10–20°F below normal — is increasing heating run-times and energy consumption. According to the company, longer heating use is the primary driver of higher home energy bills during this extended cold stretch.