Duke Energy & Piedmont Natural Gas Take New Steps To Help In Wake Of COVID-19

Friday, March 20, 2020 at 6:05 AM

These steps aim to help customers, communities, and employees.

(Charlotte, N.C.) - Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas has announced a comprehensive set of steps to assist customers, communities, and employees through the economic hardship caused by the coronavirus.

“This is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response,” said Lynn Good, Duke Energy’s chairman, president and CEO. “We hope the customers and communities we are privileged to serve – and the outstanding Duke Energy employees who serve them – will take some comfort from these actions.”

More Help for Customers

Beginning tomorrow, March 21, the company will be waiving late payment fees and fees for returned payments for the millions of electric and natural gas customers until the national state of emergency is lifted.

The company will also waive fees for credit and debit card payments for residential customers.

Last week, Duke Energy said it would discontinue service disconnections for unpaid bills, which covers 7.8 million electric customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers served by Piedmont Natural Gas.

“Our goal is to continue providing reliable service while helping our most vulnerable customers during this extraordinary time,” Good said.

Community Assistance

The Duke Energy Foundation has donated $1.3 million to support support hunger relief and help local health and human services nonprofits, including those providing meals to children and families impacted by school closures.

Given the unprecedented nature of the situation, the foundation is allowing nonprofits to use the funds where most needed.

Relief for Employees

To help provide continued service to our customers through this time, Duke Energy is expanding assistance to employees to maintain the highest level of service to customers.

Duke Energy is offering five additional personal days off to employees who are experiencing a disruption in dependent care due to school, daycare or other child-related care. Also, a $1,500 stipend will be provided to assist with unplanned expenses.

$100,000 has been donated to the Relief4Employees program.

The Relief4Employees program is a fund that Duke Energy employees can draw on for short term financial help.

Continued service to customers

Duke Energy will continue to read meters and send bills. Customers should pay what they can to avoid a build up of large balances that could be difficult to pay off later.

Power plants, electricity and natural gas delivery facilities, and call centers continue to be staffed to ensure dependable service to customers. The company will continue to respond to power outages and other emergencies.

Customers are reminded to download the company’s mobile app or visit duke-energy.com or piedmontng.com for information and most service transactions. Customers who are unable to self-serve can still contact the company: