Piedmont Natural Gas shares tips to help lower energy costs before upcoming cold weather

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Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: DUK) issued winter tips and customer resources to help manage higher heating bills as cold weather arrives. Recommendations include setting thermostats to the lowest comfortable level, using smart thermostats, opening drapes on sunny days, changing air filters, setting water heaters to 120°F, sealing drafts, and running ceiling fans clockwise. The company highlights online tools such as usage history, an Energy Advisor, and cost calculators, plus the free Equal Payment Plan (EPP) to level monthly bills. Assistance programs referenced include Share the Warmth and LIHEAP. Piedmont serves more than 1.2 million customers in NC, SC and TN.

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• Energy-saving tips, payment programs can help customers manage seasonal bills
• B-roll: Energy efficiency tips for natural gas

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As temperatures drop across the Southeast this weekend and into next week, causing heating systems to work harder and use more energy, Piedmont Natural Gas offers tips, resources and assistance programs to help customers stay comfortable while managing seasonal energy bills.

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% to 20% on your heating and cooling bills.
• Set your ceiling fans to operate clockwise. Running your fans in a clockwise direction helps push warm air down.
• 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 North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. More information: piedmontng.com. Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: X, Facebook.

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 thermostat setting does Piedmont Natural Gas (DUK) recommend for winter?

Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting and consider a smart or programmable thermostat to reduce energy use when asleep or away.

How does Piedmont's Equal Payment Plan (EPP) work for DUK customers?

EPP averages a customer's annual natural gas usage into a predictable equal monthly payment to help avoid seasonal bill spikes.

What assistance programs does Piedmont Natural Gas (DUK) reference for customers in need?

The release references Share the Warmth funds and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with links to approved local agencies.

What online tools does Piedmont offer to help DUK customers track and reduce gas use?

Customers can view monthly usage history, use an Energy Advisor for home-specific efficiency suggestions, and run water heater, cooking, and dryer cost calculators.

What simple home steps does Piedmont Natural Gas (DUK) say can cut heating costs this winter?

Recommendations include sealing seams and cracks, changing air filters, setting water heater to 120°F, using ceiling fans clockwise, and using sunlight to warm rooms.

How many customers does Piedmont Natural Gas (DUK) serve and where?

Piedmont distributes natural gas to more than 1.2 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.