ICYMI: Over 1,000 In St. Pete Get Energy Efficiency Upgrades

From Duke Energy:

February 13 2020

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — More than 1,000 income-eligible customers in St. Petersburg’s Campbell Park neighborhood will soon receive a jolt of positive energy from Duke Energy. This month, the company will begin installing energy efficient upgrades in homes.

Through its innovative Neighborhood Energy Saver program, the company will give qualified customers a complimentary energy makeover for their house or apartment.

The program can help customers in single-family homes save up to $315 a year in energy costs and customers living in apartments up to $150 a year.

“Duke Energy Florida is committed to helping our customers better understand and manage their energy use,” said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Our Neighborhood Energy Saver program has more than a decade of success helping lower income customers save money on their energy bills. We make their homes more efficient and give them information on how to use energy wisely so they can make a long-lasting, positive change.”

Duke Energy Florida will assess each home to determine if it qualifies for free attic insulation, duct sealing and AC maintenance. Customers receive up to 20 energy-saving improvements at no cost, including:

§ water heater tank wraps and insulation for water pipes;

§ low-flow faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads;

§ refrigerator thermometers;

§ wall plate thermometer;

§ HVAC winterization kit;

§ water heater temperature check and adjustment;

§ HVAC filters.

§ Door sweeps, caulking, foam insulation, weather stripping and clear patch tape

In addition, the Company provides up to eight energy efficient lightbulbs. Customers will also learn how daily activities, habits and other factors can increase their electric use and raise their energy bills.

Eligible customers will receive an invitation to the Neighborhood Energy Saver kickoff that will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Campbell Park Elementary School, 1051 Seventh Avenue S.

A map detailing the eligible residents is available upon request.

Duke Energy is working in collaboration with the City of St. Petersburg, United Way Suncoast Resource Center’s Campbell Park, Pinellas County Urban League, Campbell Park Elementary School and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Duke Energy Florida has a long history of supporting the Campbell Park area. In 2017, the company announced a $1 million grant to the Campbell Park community and its surrounding neighborhoods. Employees have also volunteered dozens of hours in the area through the “Walking School Bus” initiative for local elementary school students and several projects that beautified the Campbell Park Resource Center.

Since the Neighborhood Energy Saver program’s inception in 2006, the company has implemented the Neighborhood Energy Saver program in more than 61 communities across Florida and installed more than 600,000 energy-efficiency improvements in more than 36,000 income-eligible customers’ homes.

Federal and state guidelines and census data are used to objectively select communities where the program would be most beneficial.

Since 1981, Duke Energy has helped its Florida customers save nearly $1.25 billion through its energy-efficiency programs including the Neighborhood Energy Saver program. For more information on energy-efficiency tips that benefit all homeowners, visit www.duke-energy.com, click on “Florida” and then “Save Energy & Money.”

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns a diverse generation mix of natural gas, coal and renewables, providing about 10,200 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.8 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.

Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2019 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list, and Forbes’ 2019 “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

This press release was produced by the Duke Energy. The views expressed here are the author’s own.