Duke Energy Offers Energy-Saving Tips to Stay Cool and Save Money This Summer

With temperatures soaring well into the 90s this summer, Duke Energy
encourages customers to take some simple steps to stay cool and save
money.

"When temperatures are consistently high like they've been the past
few weeks, we know customers will use more energy as their air
conditioners operate longer and more frequently to keep their homes
cool," said Gianna Manes, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief
customer officer. "Across our five-state service area, we're seeing
residential customer bill increases anywhere from 12 to 19 percent
compared to this time last year, so it's important that customers
understand how making a few simple changes can make a difference in
their monthly energy costs," Manes said.

Energy-Saving Information

* Adjusting your thermostat up a few degrees can reduce your cooling
costs by as much as 5 percent. Start by setting your thermostat on the
highest comfortable setting and then adjust it up when you leave home.
* If you have a ceiling-mounted fan, you can raise your thermostat by
as much as four degrees when you are home without noticing a
difference in temperature. A ceiling fan will create wind, it will not
cool a room, so be sure to turn if off when you're not home.
* Place heat-producing appliances such as lamps and televisions away
from the air conditioning thermostat to prevent inaccurate temperature
readings.
* For homes without air conditioning systems, use fans to draw cooler
air inside during the night and to circulate air throughout your home
during the day. Fan blades should rotate counter-clockwise in the
summer months.
* Save jobs that produce moisture -- like mopping, dishwashing and
washing clothes -- for early morning or night-time hours. The humidity
from these activities can make homes uncomfortable. On hot days, cook
outdoors, use a microwave oven or prepare cold meals to avoid excess
heat in the home.

For more energy-saving tips and information -- including a thermostat
calculator that demonstrates possible savings – visit
www.duke-energy.com. Click the "residential" tab and select your
state. Tips and tools are available in the "Save Energy & Money"
section.