Piedmont Natural Gas is advising customers to prepare for a drop in temperatures expected next week across the Southeast, which will likely increase energy use as heating systems work harder. The company has outlined several strategies to help households manage their seasonal energy bills.
Among the recommended steps are setting thermostats to the lowest comfortable temperature and using smart or programmable thermostats to reduce energy use when away or asleep. Piedmont also suggests taking advantage of sunlight during the day by keeping drapes open and closing them at night to minimize heat loss. Regularly changing air filters can prevent heating systems from overworking, while lowering water heater settings to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or installing tankless heaters can cut down on energy consumption.
Homeowners are encouraged to seal cracks and openings with caulk, weatherstripping, and ensure air ducts are properly sealed, which can significantly lower heating costs. Adding insulation in ceilings, floors, and walls may further reduce energy demand and improve comfort.
Customers can access tools such as gas usage history reports through their online accounts, use an Energy Advisor tool for personalized efficiency recommendations, and estimate annual costs with calculators for water heaters, cooking appliances, and clothes dryers. A video explaining natural gas bill factors is available on Piedmont’s website.
To help manage monthly expenses, Piedmont offers an Equal Payment Plan (EPP) that averages a customer’s annual natural gas usage into equal monthly payments. More information about this program is available on the company’s website.
Financial assistance options include Share the Warmth, which distributes funds through local agencies regardless of fuel type used by families. Customers can find agency contacts at piedmontng.com/ShareTheWarmth. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) also provides support for utility bills related to natural gas and other sources. Details about these programs are accessible at piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms or by visiting piedmontng.com/WinterBills for state-specific resources.
“Piedmont says anyone in need can apply for this and other newly available programs to see if they qualify. For more information, go to piedmontng.com/AssistancePrograms. For detailed federal and state-specific information, go to piedmontng.com/WinterBills and click on your state.”
Piedmont Natural Gas serves more than 1.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee as a subsidiary of Duke Energy.
For media inquiries: Jason Wheatley at 877-348-3612 or jason.wheatley@duke-energy.com.
