Mayors in the Carolinas, Tennessee proclaim Dec. 12 'Share the Warmth Day'

Rhea-AI Summary

The mayors of several cities, including Charlotte and Nashville, have declared December 12, 2022, as "Share the Warmth Day" to support Piedmont Natural Gas's charitable program. This initiative helps neighbors pay energy bills through donations collected from customers and community contributions. Piedmont's Round Up program allows customers to round up their bills to aid this cause. Since its inception in 2003, the program has aimed to alleviate energy cost struggles, especially during the cold season when bills tend to rise. The program is open to all, offering assistance year-round.

Positive

• The Share the Warmth program has been active since 2003, helping numerous families manage energy costs.
• The initiative received support from multiple city mayors, enhancing community engagement.
• Customers can easily enroll in the program through various methods, increasing participation.

Negative

• The program highlights the ongoing issue of rising energy costs, indicating potential financial strain on customers.
• The emphasis on community contributions suggests that customer base alone may not suffice to meet needs.

Proclamations encourage support for Piedmont Natural Gas program that keeps neighbors warm

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- To encourage the act of giving and sharing warmth with neighbors, the mayors of Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro and Wilmington, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; and Nashville, Tenn., have proclaimed Dec. 12, 2022, as "Share the Warmth Day" in their respective cities.

Share the Warmth is a long-running program sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas that provides emergency funding for neighbors who need help paying their energy bills, regardless of the energy source they use. Money is collected from Piedmont customers through the company's Round Up program, as well as from community donations and a direct contribution from Piedmont itself.

"Since Share the Warmth began in 2003, the goal has been to help keep our neighbors warm," said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Piedmont Natural Gas. "We've designated Dec. 12, or 12/12, as 'Share the Warmth Day' to remind customers of the huge difference they can make in the lives of our neighbors in need for no more than $12 a year. When they join our Round Up program, Piedmont rounds up their monthly natural gas bill to the next dollar, and the difference is contributed to Share the Warmth.

"There's no better time to consider this easy way to help those in our community who may be having difficulty making ends meet. Many customers may experience higher-than-normal energy bills during the winter heating season due to lower temperatures and globally high natural gas prices, and Share the Warmth funds are here to help. We encourage those neighbors who may be struggling to contact Piedmont Natural Gas to learn more about how these funds can assist them," Weintraub said.

To shine a light on the importance of Share the Warmth's mission, Piedmont Natural Gas has teamed up with mayors throughout its three-state service territory in hopes of encouraging Piedmont customers and the community at large to support the program and help keep our neighbors warm this winter.

Piedmont customers can enroll easily in Share the Warmth through one of the following methods:

• Visiting piedmontng.com/ShareTheWarmth
• Filling out the form on the back of their bill
• Calling Piedmont at 800.752.7504
• Texting SHARE to 21209 (message and data rates may apply)

Non-customers also can visit piedmontng.com/ShareTheWarmth to learn more about how to contribute to the program by mailing a check to Piedmont.

All funds collected through Share the Warmth go to help neighbors in the community where the money is donated, and 100% of contributions are distributed through local nonprofit partners directly to those in need. Assistance from Share the Warmth is available year-round to eligible neighbors who are struggling to pay their energy bills, regardless of the source of energy they use, including propane, electricity and natural gas.

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 routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction, and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. More information: piedmontng.com. Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: Twitter, Facebook.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., 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 collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy 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 executing 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 electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear. 

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contact: Jason Wheatley
Piedmont Natural Gas
704.731.4034
Jason.Wheatley@duke-energy.com

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SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas

FAQ

What is Share the Warmth Day?

Share the Warmth Day, proclaimed on December 12, 2022, encourages community support for those struggling to pay energy bills through donations to Piedmont Natural Gas's program.

How does Piedmont Natural Gas support its customers during winter?

Piedmont Natural Gas provides the Share the Warmth program, which offers emergency funding for neighbors needing assistance with their energy bills.

How can I contribute to the Share the Warmth program?

Customers can contribute by enrolling in the Round Up program, where their bills are rounded up to the next dollar for donation, or by making direct contributions.

What impact does Share the Warmth have on local communities?

The program directly supports low-income families by distributing funds through local nonprofit partners to pay their energy bills, fostering community resilience.

When was the Share the Warmth program started?

The Share the Warmth program was initiated in 2003, aiming to assist neighbors in need with their energy bills.