CHARLOTTE, N.C., — Duke Energy Carolinas customers set a new all-time peak record for energy usage on Friday, Jan. 5. Duke Energy Carolinas serves 2.5 million households and businesses in central and western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina.
The unofficial peak record is now 21,623 megawatt-hours in the hour ending at 8 a.m., which beat the previous record set on Feb. 20, 2015, when customers used 21,101 megawatt-hours.
“Last week was bitterly cold in the Carolinas, and our team worked around-the-clock to make sure we were prepared to meet our customers’ energy needs,” said Nelson Peeler, senior vice president and chief transmission officer. “Extreme temperatures drive record usage since the majority of the energy we use as consumers is for heating or cooling our homes and businesses. Our system performed well during this time frame when we know our customers count on us most.”
Duke Energy system operators closely monitored the electric system as temperatures dove well below freezing last week and helped ensure the company had an adequate supply of electricity to meet energy demand.
Cold weather can cause energy usage to spike, and it is a good time for customers to use energy more efficiently to manage their bills and help ensure reliability of the electric grid. Tips for saving on your winter heating bill: https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/tips-for-saving-
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