Duke Energy Indiana sets new all-time winter peak record for energy use

Duke Energy Indiana customers set a new all-time winter peak record for energy usage of 7,281 megawatt-hours as temperatures dipped in the hour ending at 9 a.m. on Jan. 2.

“Last week was bitterly cold in Indiana, and our team worked around-the-clock to make sure we were prepared to meet our customers’ energy needs,” Nelson Peeler, senior vice president and chief transmission officer, said. “Extreme temperatures drive record usage since the majority of the energy we use as consumers is for heating or cooling our homes and businesses. Our system performed well during this time frame when we know our customers count on us most.”

Duke Energy noted that its system operators closely monitored the electric system to help ensure an adequate electricity supply to meet energy demand as temperatures fell to well below zero degrees at times during the week of Jan. 2.

Duke also offered tips for using energy more efficiently during periods of cold to help grid ensure reliability and save on their winter electric bills.

The previous winter peak record for energy usage record of 7,214 megawatt-hours was set on Jan. 6, 2014.

Duke Energy Indiana serves approximately 820,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area with about 6,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity.