INDIANA – With the unofficial start to summer – Memorial Day and the Indy 500 – behind us, it’s time to begin planning for the heat of the season. And just in time, Duke Energy has launched new tools that can help customers take control of their energy use while staying cool.
What’s new
- Smart Usage Option: Launched this year, Duke Energy’s “Smart Usage Option” is a new time-of-use tool for customers that helps them save on their bills by shifting typical household chores to times when there is less demand for power.
- By shifting laundry, dishwashing, or EV charging to lower-cost hours, families have a practical way to reduce what they pay each month. Learn more about the Smart Usage Option here.
- Energy spike alerts: Also new this year, Duke Energy residential customers enrolled in the Home Energy Report program will now receive energy spike alerts when their electricity usage is more than five times what their daily usage is expected to be in a given month.
- These alerts arrive in customers’ inboxes and can identify problems with a furnace or a refrigerator that seem to be running more than usual, for example. The alerts also include recommendations on taking action to fix the issue.
Tell me more about savings programs and incentives
- Get a free home energy assessment. Customers receive free energy-efficiency products, customized usage report, low-cost tips and expert recommendations to help them see energy savings by signing up for our free Home Energy House Call. These assessments can be done in person, over the phone or virtually.
- Need an upgrade? Customers can take advantage of rebates for equipment like HVAC systems, hot water heaters and pool pumps as well as upgrades like attic insulation through our Smart $aver program.
- Get paid for shifting energy use. Enroll your qualifying smart thermostat in ourPower Manager® program to receive a bill credit. By enrolling in this program, you agree to let us make brief adjustments to your thermostat temperature throughout the year during peak electric demand periods.
- Interest-free installment payment plans can help customers who need flexibility with paying their energy bills.
- Visit our Special Assistance page for more information.
Tips to save energy and money
- Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. Even a couple of degrees can help save energy and money. Keep in mind: Your system will run longer – using more energy – the hotter it is outside even if your thermostat setting never changes.
- Use cooler water for washing clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a laundry load’s energy use in half.
- Run heat-producing appliances during cooler morning hours for additional savings.
- Close curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home to help prevent the sun from heating your home.
- Operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction in the summer, which pushes cooler air back down into the room.
For more ways to save, visit duke-energy.com/SummerSavings.
