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New this summer: An easier way to understand your energy bill

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Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) launched an AI-powered Bill Insights feature in its mobile app to help Carolinas residential customers understand what drives monthly summer energy costs. The tool offers a personalized, plain-language breakdown of usage, weather impact and historical comparisons, with more detailed insights planned in future phases.

Bill Insights is available now for Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers and will roll out to Duke Energy Progress customers in mid-July.

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News Market Reaction – DUK

-0.05%
-0.05% Session close to close

In the Jun 29 session, DUK declined 0.05%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights an AI-based Bill Insights feature to clarify summer energy costs, reinf...
Analysis

This announcement highlights an AI-based Bill Insights feature to clarify summer energy costs, reinforcing DUK’s customer-focus while it executes a large modernization plan. With an active funding shelf and recent insider net selling, investors may watch how digital tools affect satisfaction and regulatory relationships.

Key Figures

Cooling degree days deviation: 12%–18% above normals Dew point increase: 25 degrees AC moisture load: Up to 30% or more +5 more
8 metrics
Cooling degree days deviation 12%–18% above normals Summers of 2024 and 2025 in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham vs 1991–2020
Dew point increase 25 degrees Average dew point rise across the Carolinas from April to midsummer
AC moisture load Up to 30% or more Share of AC unit capacity that can go toward removing moisture
Recommended indoor humidity 30% to 50% Range recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Perceived cooling from fan Up to 4 degrees How much cooler a ceiling fan can make occupants feel
Electric customers 8.7 million Electric utility customers served across six U.S. states
Electric capacity 55,700 megawatts Total energy capacity owned by Duke Energy's electric utilities
Natural gas customers 1.6 million Natural gas utilities customers in NC, SC, OH and KY

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 24 (Positive)
Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Jun 24 Community grants SC Positive +1.2% Foundation completed $550,000 in America250 grants to South Carolina nonprofits.
Jun 24 Community grants NC Positive +1.2% America250 grants of $186,100 to 16 North Carolina nonprofits for civic learning.
Jun 16 Community grants FL Positive +0.6% Florida America250 grants totaling $150,000 to expand civic learning and remembrance.
Jun 15 America250 completion Positive +0.3% Final America250 round with nearly $830,000 in 54 grants across service area.
Jun 11 Workforce coalition Positive -0.7% Joined Careers Electric coalition targeting 25,000 trained workers over 10 years.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

DUK has generally traded higher on community and foundation news, with only one recent divergence on workforce-related headlines.

Key Terms

cooling degree days, heat index
2 terms
cooling degree days technical
"Cooling degree days – a National Weather Service measure of how hard air conditioners"
Cooling degree days measure how much and for how long daily temperatures exceed a comfort baseline (commonly 65°F), by adding up the degrees above that baseline across days. Think of it as a thermometer-based tally of extra heat: the higher the number, the greater the likely need for air conditioning. Investors use this to estimate energy consumption, utility demand, HVAC sales, and weather-driven revenue or cost swings.
heat index technical
"with highs climbing into the mid-90s and heat indices approaching 100 F across the Carolinas"
Heat index is a measure of how hot it actually feels to people by combining air temperature and humidity—think of the difference between a dry oven and a muggy sauna even at the same thermometer reading. It matters to investors because extreme apparent heat can raise energy demand, disrupt outdoor work and supply chains, harm crops, and change consumer behavior, all of which can affect costs, revenue and project timelines.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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  • Duke Energy's new AI-powered Bill Insights helps Carolinas customers understand what's driving their summer energy costs

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heading into the hottest stretch of the year, with highs climbing into the mid-90s and heat indices approaching 100 F across the Carolinas over the weekend – and potentially even hotter conditions mid to late next week – Duke Energy is giving Carolinas customers a new way to answer a familiar summer question: "Why is my bill higher?"

The new AI-powered Bill Insights feature in the Duke Energy mobile app delivers a personalized, plain-language breakdown of what's driving each month's energy costs – including how much is tied to weather and how usage compares over time. This first phase offers a simple, at-a-glance view, and it's just the beginning. Duke Energy plans to expand the feature in the coming months with more detailed insights.

Bill Insights are available now to Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers on the Billing tab of the mobile app and rolls out to Duke Energy Progress customers in mid-July.

"Our customers want to better understand what's behind their energy bills," said Sasha Weintraub, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Duke Energy.

"AI Bill Insights complements what we provide through My Home Energy Report, which gives customers personalized insights into their usage and tips to help them save. Now we're introducing an easy-to-understand, plain-language look at what's shaping each month's bill – and we'll keep enhancing it based on what customers find most helpful."

'I didn't change anything. Why are my energy costs higher?'
It's one of the most common questions Duke Energy hears every summer – and the answer comes down to how air conditioning systems work. When a thermostat is set to 72 degrees and the outdoor high is 82 in May, the system bridges a 10-degree gap. In July, when the high reaches 98, that gap grows to 26 degrees – and the system runs significantly longer to close it, using more energy, even though no one touched the dial.

The data behind higher summer energy use
Cooling degree days – a National Weather Service measure of how hard air conditioners have to work – ran about 12% to 18% above 1991-2020 normals across Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham during the summers of 2024 and 2025. That means AC systems were running longer and using more energy than in a typical summer.

Humidity compounds the effect. Average dew points across the Carolinas climb about 25 degrees between April and midsummer, pushing AC systems from barely running to working full time. Up to 30% or more of an AC unit's capacity can go toward removing moisture – and that share grows as humidity rises. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%.

What customers can do
In addition to checking Bill Insights, Duke Energy encourages customers to take a few practical steps to manage summer energy use:

  • Adjust the thermostat and use ceiling fans. Adjust your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting and increase it slightly while away. Running a ceiling fan can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler without changing the setting.
  • Consider a stand-alone dehumidifier to take some of the moisture-removal burden off the AC system.
  • Watch for Usage Alerts emailed mid-billing cycle for projected energy costs so there are no end-of-month surprises.
  • Schedule a free home energy assessment to identify where conditioned air may be escaping through the attic, ductwork or other gaps.
  • Explore Smart $aver® rebates for HVAC, insulation and other efficiency upgrades.

For more programs, solutions and tips, visit duke-energy.com/SummerSolutions.

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 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-this-summer-an-easier-way-to-understand-your-energy-bill-302813271.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What is Duke Energy (DUK) Bill Insights and how does it help customers?

Bill Insights is an AI-powered feature in the Duke Energy app that explains monthly energy costs in plain language. According to Duke Energy, it breaks down weather impacts, usage over time and key cost drivers so customers better understand summer bills.

When will Duke Energy (DUK) Bill Insights be available for Carolinas customers?

Bill Insights is already available for Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers in the mobile app’s Billing tab. According to Duke Energy, the feature will roll out to Duke Energy Progress customers in mid-July, extending access across more Carolinas territories.

How does hot weather affect Duke Energy (DUK) summer energy bills in the Carolinas?

Higher outdoor temperatures increase the gap between indoor thermostat settings and outside heat, making air conditioners run longer. According to Duke Energy, cooling degree days ran about 12%–18% above normal recently, pushing higher energy use and contributing to elevated summer bills.

What practical steps does Duke Energy (DUK) recommend to lower summer energy costs?

Duke Energy recommends raising thermostats to the highest comfortable setting, using ceiling fans, and considering dehumidifiers. According to Duke Energy, customers can also use Usage Alerts, schedule free home energy assessments, and explore Smart $aver rebates for HVAC, insulation and efficiency upgrades.

How does humidity influence air conditioning costs for Duke Energy (DUK) customers?

Rising humidity forces air conditioners to use more capacity to remove moisture, increasing run times and energy use. According to Duke Energy, up to 30% or more of an AC unit’s capacity can go toward dehumidification, especially as Carolinas dew points climb into midsummer.