On February 2, Duke Energy publicly thanked its 4.7 million electric customers across North and South Carolina for reducing electricity consumption during one of the coldest mornings of the season. Temperature readings dropped 10–20 degrees below normal, driving demand significantly higher than typical winter peaks. By voluntarily lowering thermostats, postponing appliance use between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m., and minimizing non-essential power use, customers helped prevent potential system overloads and supported uninterrupted service. According to Gerald Wilson, vice president of grid operations, this collective action played a “meaningful” role in stabilizing load on the utility’s network, reducing reliance on emergency power purchases and lessening stress on generation assets.

Duke Energy reports it is in a strong operational position to meet remaining winter demand, leveraging a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. The company’s North Carolina and South Carolina electric utilities collectively own 55,100 megawatts of capacity, backed by 24-hour monitoring and rapid-response crews. In parallel, Duke Energy continues to invest in major grid upgrades—smart meters, advanced sensors and enhanced transmission—to improve resilience as part of its multi-year energy transition plan. Executives highlighted ongoing projects to add battery storage and offshore wind capacity, emphasizing that bolstered infrastructure will support both economic growth and rising regional electricity needs over the next decade.