Duke Energy crews have restored power to 131,059 customers across North Carolina and South Carolina as of 2 p.m. on January 26, leaving 21,976 customers still without service following Winter Storm Fern. North Carolina accounts for 93,609 restorations and 10,554 ongoing outages, while South Carolina has seen 37,450 restorations and 11,422 outages. The company serves roughly 4.7 million electric customers in the Carolinas and aims to complete most repairs by the end of Monday, with lingering outages in hard-hit areas such as Hendersonville, Travelers Rest and Clemson expected to extend into Tuesday due to challenging road conditions and extensive equipment damage.

With colder-than-normal temperatures driving heating systems to run longer this week, Duke Energy is advising customers with active service to adopt simple measures to manage rising usage and mitigate bill impacts. Recommended actions include setting thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature, checking and replacing air filters to maintain system efficiency, using natural sunlight for daytime warming by opening blinds, closing coverings at night to retain heat, and operating ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to distribute warm air. These low-cost steps aim to help consumers reduce energy consumption without compromising indoor comfort.

During the third quarter, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI reduced its position in Duke Energy by 8.6%, selling 6,054 shares to hold 64,583 shares valued at approximately $7.99 million as of its latest SEC filing. This adjustment forms part of broader portfolio reallocations among institutional investors, with 65.31% of Duke Energy’s outstanding stock held by such entities. Monitoring shifts in institutional stakes provides insight into professional sentiment regarding Duke’s long-term cash flow stability and regulated utility risk profile.