Duke Energy is asking its Florida customers to voluntarily reduce electricity use on Monday, February 2, 2026, between 5 and 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The request comes as the state faces its coldest weather since 2018, leading to higher demand for electricity across the southeastern United States.
The company recommends several steps for reducing energy consumption during these hours. Customers are advised to set their thermostats as low as comfortably possible, delay using appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers until after the peak period, and turn off unnecessary devices and lights. Owners of electric vehicles are encouraged to charge them midday when demand is lower.
“We know power is an essential part of our customers’ everyday lives, and we recognize that reducing electricity usage isn’t an easy ask,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and understanding as we work to continue providing safe, reliable service for our more than 2 million customers during this cold spell.”
Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to about two million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida. The subsidiary owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity.
Duke Energy’s parent company serves approximately 8.4 million electric utility customers in six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. It also provides natural gas services to about 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources such as natural gas, nuclear power, renewables and energy storage while focusing on customer reliability.
More information can be found at duke-energy.com or through the Duke Energy News Center.
