Duke Energy Corporation reports developments tied to one of the largest regulated utility platforms in the United States. The company operates electric utilities serving customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and natural gas utilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.
Recurring news themes include quarterly financial results, common and preferred stock dividends, electric grid modernization, generation investments, customer cost initiatives, and regulatory approvals affecting power plants and utility service. Company updates also cover nuclear generation, natural gas and other resource additions, federal and state regulatory matters, and Duke Energy Foundation community programs in the utility territories it serves.
Duke Energy (DUK) has asked the Florida Public Service Commission to approve lower customer electric rates starting in January 2027 compared with December 2026 bills.
Typical residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month are expected to see a $0.71 bill decrease. Commercial and industrial customers are projected to see reductions between 0.8% and 3.6%, with actual impact varying by usage and other factors.
The company cites lower fuel costs and an innovative tax strategy that avoids a previously planned 2% base rate increase and accelerates $50 million in customer savings for 2027. Ongoing investments in renewable energy, grid-strengthening infrastructure and energy efficiency programs are also highlighted.
Duke Energy (DUK) is reminding Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers about tools and assistance programs as extreme heat returns to Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in early September 2026. Forecast highs in the mid-to-upper 90s, more than 10 to 15 degrees above normal, are expected to drive higher electricity use.
Customers can sign up for usage alerts that provide mid-cycle energy use updates and projected bill estimates, allowing time to adjust consumption. Duke Energy highlights low- or no-cost tips such as raising thermostats to the highest comfortable setting, using cool water for laundry, shifting oven use to cooler hours, closing blinds on sunny days and running ceiling fans counterclockwise.
For those needing help paying bills, available options include a Payment Assistance Finder, installment payment plans, the Pick Your Due Date tool and due date extensions. Additional information and summer energy resources are available on Duke Energy's Summer Energy Solutions webpage.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is alerting customers in the Carolinas to a return of hot weather, with National Weather Service forecasts calling for mid‑to‑upper 90s and heat indices of 100‑105 degrees, roughly 10 degrees above normal for early September.
The company explains that higher outdoor temperatures widen the gap between indoor thermostat settings and outdoor heat, causing air conditioners to run longer and increase energy use even when thermostats do not change. Duke Energy highlights free tools such as Bill Insights, Usage Alerts and My Home Energy Report, as well as home energy assessments, demand‑response bill credits up to $246, time‑based rates, Budget Billing, Pick Your Due Date and a Payment Assistance Finder to help customers manage costs and access support.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, is investing $180,000 in workforce training across South Carolina by awarding nine technical and community colleges grants of $20,000 each. The funding will support construction-related training, welding tools, electrician program supplies and other hands-on learning that aligns with high-demand skilled trades.
According to Duke Energy, the initiative aims to help meet labor needs for projects such as its planned natural gas facility in Anderson County, which is expected to require potentially thousands of skilled trade workers. Since 2016, the Foundation has invested $5.4 million in similar workforce initiatives in the state.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is highlighting digital tools and assistance programs to help customers in North Carolina and South Carolina manage higher summer power bills as heat persists. The initiative follows NOAA data indicating July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded across the contiguous U.S.
Customers can use Bill Insights in the Duke Energy app, Usage Alerts and Home Energy Reports to monitor and understand energy use and projected bills. According to Duke Energy, partnerships with community organizations have delivered more than $31 million in bill-payment assistance over the past decade through programs such as Share the Light Fund and Share the Warmth.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, launched a $175,000 Main Street Revitalization grant program for South Carolina communities. The program will fund projects that enhance downtown districts, neighborhood centers and commercial corridors, focusing on quality of life and long-term economic growth.
South Carolina government entities and qualified nonprofits can apply for grants up to $10,000 for initiatives such as facade improvements, streetscape upgrades, public gathering spaces, wayfinding signage, blighted building renovations, landscaping, greenway connections and small-business incentive programs. Applications are open through Aug. 31. According to Duke Energy, its Foundation provides over $30 million in annual philanthropic support funded by company shareholders.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) reported that more than 2,000 lineworkers, tree trimmers and support personnel restored over 340,000 customer outages across Greater Cincinnati after a rare derecho and subsequent storms between Aug. 11 and Aug. 15.
The company said crews restored 85% of outages in under 48 hours after the Aug. 11 derecho. Self-healing grid technology in Greater Cincinnati automatically restored around 23,000 customer outages, avoiding more than 225,000 hours of outage time. About 80% of Duke Energy’s electric customers in Ohio and Kentucky are served by this technology.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) submitted its 2026 Carolinas Resource Plan to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina on Aug. 14, outlining how it will meet the state's fast‑growing energy demand. The plan emphasizes maximizing existing assets while adding diverse resources, including natural gas, solar, storage and potential future nuclear generation.
Key actions include a 1,400 MW combined cycle facility in Anderson County, an RFP for 400 MW of standalone storage, continued solar build‑out, and expanded Grid Edge programs. Duke Energy targets more than $5 billion in customer cost-saving benefits from tax credits and the approved combination of Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, and has applied for U.S. DOE loans that could provide additional customer savings. A PSCSC hearing is scheduled for April 2027, with an order expected by June 2027.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) reports that crews have restored nearly 222,653 customer outages across Greater Cincinnati as of 4 p.m. Thursday, following major storms that caused more than 261,000 outages on Tuesday and Wednesday. Current outages total 38,861, with 32,485 in Ohio and 6,376 in Kentucky, meaning about 85% of affected customers have been restored.
The company expects nearly all remaining Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky customers who can safely receive service to be restored on Thursday and directs all impacted customers to its online Outage Map for estimated restoration times. More than 2,000 lineworkers, tree trimmers and storm workers, including personnel from Indiana and the Carolinas, are engaged in the response. The Duke Energy Foundation has also committed $100,000 in grants to organizations providing food, shelter and recovery assistance in the region.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, is providing $500,000 in grants to North Carolina organizations that support small businesses. The funding consists of $25,000 awards to 20 nonprofits that will deliver microgrants and business assistance to hundreds of local entrepreneurs statewide.
According to Duke Energy, funded projects will address local needs such as downtown revitalization, storefront improvements, investments in equipment, technology and e-commerce, and mentorship, technical assistance and business training. The company notes this continues its North Carolina small business support, totaling over $3 million since 2020.