The utility company is advising residents to adjust thermostats to higher settings and postpone the use of major appliances like dryers and dishwashers until after the peak demand window. Owners of electric vehicles are specifically encouraged to shift charging cycles to overnight hours when demand on the grid subsides.

Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy’s North Carolina operations, noted that the current heatwave places significant pressure on regional infrastructure. While acknowledging the request may disrupt daily routines, South Carolina utility president Tim Pearson emphasized that these collective small adjustments are vital for maintaining service stability. Duke Energy currently serves approximately 3.9 million customers in North Carolina and 870,000 in South Carolina.