The heat is on - again: Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers can access tools to track energy use, find assistance resources

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky is promoting usage alerts, efficiency tips and bill-assistance tools to help customers manage higher energy use during extreme heat.

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Duke Energy (DUK) is reminding Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers about tools and assistance programs as extreme heat returns to Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in early September 2026. Forecast highs in the mid-to-upper 90s, more than 10 to 15 degrees above normal, are expected to drive higher electricity use.

Customers can sign up for usage alerts that provide mid-cycle energy use updates and projected bill estimates, allowing time to adjust consumption. Duke Energy highlights low- or no-cost tips such as raising thermostats to the highest comfortable setting, using cool water for laundry, shifting oven use to cooler hours, closing blinds on sunny days and running ceiling fans counterclockwise.

For those needing help paying bills, available options include a Payment Assistance Finder, installment payment plans, the Pick Your Due Date tool and due date extensions. Additional information and summer energy resources are available on Duke Energy's Summer Energy Solutions webpage.

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CINCINNATI, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot weather has returned to the region this week. The National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the mid-to-upper 90s across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with conditions expected to feel as hot as 100 degrees or more in some areas and temperatures running more than 10 to 15 degrees above normal for early September.

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky are reminding customers about tools that can help them stay informed about their energy use and connect them with assistance programs if they need help.

High temperatures mean higher energy use

This reminder comes as stretches of extreme heat this summer have driven higher electricity use. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2026 was the warmest month on record in the contiguous United States, resulting in higher cooling needs across southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

• As temperatures rise, air conditioners work harder and use more energy to maintain the same indoor temperature. For example, when a thermostat is set to 72 degrees and the outdoor high is 82, the system bridges a 10-degree gap. When the outdoor 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.

Tools that help customers stay informed

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers can monitor and better understand their energy use by signing up for usage alerts.

• Usage Alerts help customers stay on top of their energy use by providing a text or email alert midway through their billing cycle showing how much electricity they have used so far, and a projected bill estimate if usage continues at the same rate through the end of their billing cycle. By receiving this information before the billing cycle ends, customers have time to adjust their energy usage and potentially reduce costs before their bill arrives.

Ways to manage energy usage

In addition to usage alerts, customers can use these no- to low-cost tips to save energy during this heat wave:

• Set their thermostat to the highest comfortable setting to use less energy. Even a few degrees can make it easier on their cooling systems and their wallet. When they leave, raise it a few degrees, then gradually lower it when they return.
  
  
• Use cool water for laundry whenever possible. It helps reduce energy use and keeps their home cooler.
  
  
• Use ovens or stovetops during cooler morning or evening hours. During the day, try an air fryer, slow cooker or outdoor grill instead. They're great alternatives that won't heat up homes.
  
  
• Close drapes or blinds during hot, sunny days to cool their house and prevent natural sunlight from warming the home.
  
  
• Operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction to push cool air back down into the room.  

Help is available

Customers who need help paying their bill are encouraged to contact Duke Energy to learn about payment arrangements and assistance programs.

Resources include:

• Payment Assistance Finder, a free online tool that directs customers to local assistance resources in their area through a simple ZIP code search. 
  
  
• Installment payment plans for customers needing flexibility.
  
  
• The Pick Your Due Date tool that lets you choose what day you want your bill to be due each month.
  
  
• Customers can also request a due date extension to provide additional flexibility.

Customers can learn more about tools, assistance programs and other resources on Duke Energy's Summer Energy Solutions webpage.

Our view

"Hot summers, particularly during stretches of extreme heat like we're expecting this week, can lead to higher energy use for many households," said Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky president. "We want customers to know we're here to help, whether that's through tools that explain energy usage or by connecting them with assistance resources when they need additional support."

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky
Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky, subsidiaries of Duke Energy, provide electric service to 910,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 560,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky. 

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. 

Contact: Matt Martin
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DukeEnergyOH_KY
Date: Sept. 2, 2026

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What did Duke Energy (DUK) announce for Ohio and Kentucky customers during the September 2026 heat wave?

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky announced that customers can use tools such as usage alerts, energy-saving tips and bill-assistance programs to manage higher electricity use during early September 2026 extreme heat in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

How do Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky usage alerts help customers manage energy bills?

Usage Alerts send text or email messages midway through a billing cycle showing electricity used so far and a projected bill estimate if usage continues at the same rate. This advance notice gives customers time to adjust energy use and potentially lower their final bill.

What energy-saving tips is Duke Energy offering customers in Ohio and Kentucky during hot weather?

Duke Energy suggests setting thermostats to the highest comfortable temperature, raising settings when away, using cool water for laundry, cooking with ovens during cooler morning or evening hours, closing blinds on hot sunny days and running ceiling fans counterclockwise to push cool air downward.

What bill-assistance options are available for Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers who struggle to pay?

Customers can access a Payment Assistance Finder to locate local aid by ZIP code, enroll in installment payment plans, use the Pick Your Due Date tool to choose their monthly due date and request a due date extension for additional flexibility, according to the company.

Where can Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers find more information on summer energy tools and assistance?

Customers can learn more about usage alerts, assistance programs, billing flexibility tools and additional energy-saving resources on Duke Energy's Summer Energy Solutions webpage, which centralizes information for managing higher electricity use during hot weather.