Piedmont Natural Gas offers ways to save on energy bills ahead of next week's falling temperatures
Rhea-AI Summary
Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: DUK) urged customers on Dec. 12, 2025 to use energy-saving tips, online tools and assistance programs ahead of a predicted cold snap across the Southeast.
Key recommendations include thermostat setbacks, smart thermostats, regular filter changes, sealing ducts and home air leaks, insulating, and setting water heaters to 120°F. Customers can view monthly gas usage history, use an Energy Advisor tool and appliance cost calculators on the company website.
Piedmont promoted its free Equal Payment Plan (EPP) to level monthly bills and listed assistance options including Share the Warmth and LIHEAP, with state-specific guidance available on piedmontng.com.
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
Peers showed mixed, low-magnitude moves: D up 0.28%, NGG up 0.13%, while SO, AEP, and EXC slipped between -0.19% and -0.97%. With no peers in the momentum scanner, trading appeared company-specific rather than part of a strong sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 04 | Nuclear strategy update | Positive | -0.6% | Reaffirmed DOE-backed SMR participation and advanced new nuclear strategy. |
| Dec 02 | Philanthropy initiative | Positive | -0.9% | Announced nearly $275,000 in microgrants as part of $600,000 anti-hunger effort. |
| Nov 20 | Rate plan proposal | Positive | +0.2% | Filed North Carolina multiyear rate plans seeking $1.729B annual revenue increase. |
| Nov 19 | Leadership change | Neutral | -1.3% | Named new SVP supply chain and CPO, succeeding retiring leader. |
| Nov 07 | Customer savings tips | Neutral | -0.3% | Shared programs and tips to reduce bills as coldest air approached. |
Recent Duke Energy headlines on nuclear strategy, philanthropy, rate proposals, leadership changes, and customer savings have generally seen modest price reactions, with several positive-sentiment releases followed by slight declines.
Over the last few months, Duke Energy announced participation in a DOE-backed SMR initiative with a $400 million TVA grant, philanthropic giving of nearly $275,000 as part of more than $600,000 in anti-hunger support, and North Carolina rate plans targeting about $1.729 billion in annual revenue increases. It also detailed leadership changes and prior customer energy-saving programs. Today’s Piedmont Natural Gas announcement continues the theme of customer-focused bill management and efficiency support rather than major financial shifts.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3ASR filed on 2025-09-30 registers up to $4,000,000,000 of PremierNotes, providing Duke Energy with pre-cleared capacity to issue unsecured floating-rate demand notes subject to a $2,000,000,000 maximum net principal outstanding at any time.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Piedmont Natural Gas’ focus on helping customers manage higher seasonal usage through efficiency tips, online usage tools and programs like the Equal Payment Plan and LIHEAP access. It follows prior Duke Energy communications on customer savings and community support. Investors may monitor how such initiatives interact with larger developments, including North Carolina rate proposals of about $1.729 billion in annual revenue increases and the $4,000,000,000 PremierNotes shelf.
Key Terms
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Energy-saving tips and payment programs can help customers manage seasonal bills
- B-roll: Energy efficiency tips for natural gas
Tips to save energy and money without compromising comfort
- Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting to help save. Installing a smart or programmable thermostat will reduce energy use while you are asleep or away.
- Take advantage of sunny days. Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun to warm the house. Close drapes and blinds at night to help insulate your home, as windows can allow heat to escape.
- Change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy.
- Manage your water heating temperature. Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or consider installing an on-demand or tankless water heater that only heats water when you need it.
- Seal your home. One of the quickest energy-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weatherstrip all seams, cracks and openings to the outside. This can save
10% to20% on your heating and cooling bills. - Seal air ducts. Make sure the air ducts from your home's furnace and central air conditioner are properly sealed. Ducts that leak into the attic or crawl space can substantially increase your heating and cooling bills.
- Consider insulation. Consider whether you need to add insulation to your ceilings, floors and walls. Insulation between the indoors and outdoors reduces energy demand, saving you money while improving the comfort of your home.
- B-roll of energy efficiency measures is available here.
Stay informed about your natural gas use
Piedmont offers several tools that can help customers identify ways to save energy and money:
- Gas usage history: Customers can create or sign in to their online account to view their usage history by month to help them recognize usage trends and savings opportunities.
- Energy Advisor: Customers can learn how energy efficient their home is and spot areas to improve, based on their home's personalized data.
- Water heater, cooking, and clothes dryer calculators: Customers can estimate the annual costs of their water heating, cooking and clothes drying energy use.
- A video explaining the factors that contribute to customers' natural gas bills is available on Piedmont's website.
Level out monthly bills with the Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program
Piedmont's free EPP program helps customers manage their budgets by leveling out a customer's natural gas bills, allowing them to pay a predictable, equal 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 about the EPP program here.
Financial assistance for customers
Share the Warmth provides funds to local agencies to assist families with their utility bills, no matter the source of energy they use. Contact information for approved assistance agencies across Piedmont's service area is available at piedmontng.com/ShareTheWarmth.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to pay for natural gas, electric and other energy sources customers use in their homes.
Piedmont says anyone in need can apply for this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For more information, go to piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms. For detailed federal and state-specific information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.
Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), distributes natural gas to more than 1.2 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in
Media contact: Jason Wheatley
Media line: 877.348.3612
jason.wheatley@duke-energy.com
X: @PNG_JasonW
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SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas
FAQ
What energy-saving steps did Piedmont Natural Gas recommend on Dec. 12, 2025 for DUK customers?
How does Piedmont's Equal Payment Plan (EPP) work for DUK customers?
What assistance programs did Piedmont mention for customers struggling with winter bills (DUK)?
Where can DUK customers view their monthly natural gas usage and savings opportunities?
Does Piedmont provide online tools to estimate appliance energy costs for DUK customers?
How can DUK customers find state-specific winter billing help after the Dec. 12, 2025 notice?
