WRAL 5 On Your Side shares ways to conserve energy in your home during extreme winter weather.
Duke Energy customers received the following text during the weekend's winter storm asking them to conserve energy on Monday morning:
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"Several days of sustained temperatures below freezing are driving unusually high energy demand in our area & available power supplies are currently very limited. You can help us protect the electric grid & avoid possible temporary power outages by cutting back on nonessential energy use Monday morning from 4 a.m. - 10 a.m."
WRAL News asked Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks why the utility isn't prepared for the surge in power usage due to the winter weather.
"We everyday model our usage, and we have seen demand for electricity grow in our state," Brooks said. "We are seeing more customers moving in here. We're seeing advanced manufacturing data centers and other groups coming here. But it's really more the combination today, mostly of residential customers, plus the businesses opening up and doing things."
Brooks said Duke Energy needs a system upgrade.
"Absolutely, we are very focused on modernizing our electric system and upgrading those, those poles and wires, as well as the power plants," Brooks said. "The last few years, we've been upgrading the electrical grid itself, making the poles and wires stronger and greater capacity to be able to handle more demand on the system, adding self-healing technology to faster restore outages."
Duke Energy is also planning to increase customers' power bills.
"It's a decision we don't take lightly when we make that request," Brooks said.
5 On Your Side: Reduce energy costs
North Carolina is a cold-peaking state, which means consumers spend more on energy in the winter months. However, you do have some power when it comes to keeping your bill in check.
WRAL News spoke with Brooks about the cold stretch of weather in central North Carolina.
"We saw the potential that we were going to see some very, very high demand for electricity this morning," Brooks said. "In the wintertime, that peak typically happens in the early morning hours, 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., somewhere in there."
Get regular HVAC checks
First, regularly service your furnace or heat pump to ensure its working efficiently. Routine maintenance is always less expensive than a repair or replacement.
Make sure outside doors are sealed
Seal gaps around doors and windows with weatherstripping to prevent cold air from entering. If you don’t have weatherstripping simply put a blanket down to prevent drafts.
Close curtains when it’s dark
At night, or on dreary days, close curtains and blinds to block cold air. If it's sunny during the day let the sun come through.
Close inside doors
Remember heat travels to colder spaces, so if you have a room you’re not using, close the door.
Bundle up and drop that thermostat
Bundle up and drop your thermostat a few degrees. Heating your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home. It typically accounts for about 29% of your total utility bill, according to the Department of Energy.