Piedmont Natural Gas offers ways to help lower natural gas bill this winter | Duke Energy

  • The company continues to proactively notify customers of tips, tools and available support to manage invoices.

  • Piedmont estimates that its average residential customer’s monthly natural gas bill will increase by about $30 to $35 a month this coming winter.

CHARLOTTE, NC — With seasonally cold weather on the horizon, Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding customers of tips, tools and utilities that are available to help customers prepare for higher winter bills.

“External factors such as rising natural gas prices and colder temperatures are driving up energy bills this winter, and we’re here to help,” said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas. “We’re continually working to mitigate price increases and keep costs down, and we’re reminding customers of tips, tools and programs that can help reduce their natural gas bills.”

The Energy Information Administration recently reported in its Winter Fuels Outlook that average household spending on heating oils will increase this winter due to both expected higher fuel costs and higher energy use due to colder temperatures. Piedmont estimates that its average residential customer’s monthly natural gas bill will increase by about $30 to $35 per month over the coming winter season.

As a natural gas distributor, Piedmont purchases natural gas at the best possible price, the same price it charges its customers. The company closely monitors natural gas costs and requires adjustments to its tariffs throughout the year based on changing market conditions and other factors.

Low-cost to free energy saving tips and projectss

Natural gas consumption typically increases in winter as customers struggle with low temperatures to stay warm. Below are tips for managing your energy consumption as temperatures drop. Here you will find a B-roll of energy efficiency measures.

  • Find out how you can reduce energy consumption. The first step to reducing energy consumption in your home is to identify and prioritize energy saving improvements. This can be done by a certified auditor or by conducting your own energy audit.
  • Seal air ducts. Make sure the air ducts from your home’s furnace and central air conditioning system are properly sealed. Ducts leaking into the attic or crawl space can significantly increase your heating and cooling bills.
  • Seal your home. One of the quickest energy-saving jobs you can do is caulk, caulk, and caulk all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside. This can save 10% to 20% on your heating and cooling bills.
  • Install smart thermostats. Installing a “smart” or programmable thermostat reduces your energy consumption while you sleep or when you are away. Set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting to save.
  • Manage water heating. Set your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or consider installing a demand-controlled or tankless water heater that only heats water when you need it.
  • Consider isolation. Consider whether you need additional insulation for your ceilings, floors and walls. Insulation between the inside and outside reduces energy requirements, saving you money while improving the comfort of your home.

Balance your bill with the Equal Payment Plan (EPP) program

This free service helps customers manage their budgets by eliminating high winter bills. The EPP program balances a customer’s natural gas bills and allows them to pay a predictable, equal monthly amount to 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 here.

“We remain committed to helping our most vulnerable customers keep the heat going, whether as a resource for taking action to reduce their natural gas bills or by utilizing available relief options,” Weintraub added.

Help for customers in need

Piedmont emails and/or texts customers whose bills are past due with information about how to support utility companies administered by their state and local community agencies.

Share the Warmth provides funds to local authorities to help families with their electricity bills, regardless of the energy source they use.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) provides winter heating assistance to pay for natural gas, electricity and other methods customers use to heat their homes. There are many customers who are eligible but do not apply for this annual federal benefit, which can reduce winter heating bills for low-income families. On-site application information: https://thda.org/business-partners/liheap

Piedmont says everyone in need should apply to this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For detailed state and state information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.

Energy saving tools

Piedmont Natural Gas also offers a variety of energy saving tools to help customers and our communities find ways to save money and energy throughout the year. These programs and tools help customers understand what factors are affecting their natural gas bills and highlight specific actions they can take to reduce the impact of high winter consumption.

Piedmont natural gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, distributes natural gas to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Piedmont is regularly recognized by JD Power for outstanding customer satisfaction and has been named one of the most trusted utility brands in the United States by Cogent Reports. For more information: piedmontng.com. Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: Twitter, Facebook.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky and have a combined 50,000 megawatts of power capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is conducting an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from power generation by 2050. The company has indicative carbon emissions targets of at least 50% reduction from power generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain upstream and downstream Scope 3 emissions by 2035, and 80% from power generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major power grid improvements and energy storage, and examines zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear power.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 World’s Most Admired Companies list and Forbes’ World’s Best Employers list. Visit duke-energy.com for more information. The Duke Energy News Center contains press releases, data sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illuminations feature stories about people, innovation, community issues and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

You might also like

Comments are closed.