• $9.6 million in flexibility for current grants, bill pay assistance for low-income customers and energy efficiency programs
• $100,000 in new grants to support basic needs for seniors and families

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., October 5, 2022 /CSRwire/ - As communities continue to feel financial strain due to the rising cost of basic needs like food and transportation, Duke Energy and its Foundation are investing more than $9.6 million to support nonprofits and other programs dedicated to help those in need in Florida. The funding focuses on current and new Foundation grants and bill pay assistance for low-income customers.

“Assisting our customers and communities during these challenging times remains a top priority for Duke Energy,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Our nonprofit partners work tirelessly to provide access to the basic needs that, unfortunately, many go without. Duke Energy Florida is proud to partner with these organizations, and we will continue to explore ways we can work together to meet the needs of our communities.”

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation funding includes $100,000 for new Foundation grants, as well as flexibility for nonprofits that have received grants of $20,000 or less from 2021 to 2022 year to date. Grantees will have the ability to use the programmatic funds to cover rising general operating expenses pressured by inflation.

NU-HOPE Elder Care Services, an organization that provides support and assistance programs to seniors, is one of 12 nonprofits that received a new $8,300 grant.

“When you are already on a very tight budget, even small changes in the cost of items can be unmanageable,” said Debbie Slade, NU-HOPE Elder Care Services executive director. “We tend to think that the high cost of living affects primarily those with very low incomes. This past year, however, price increases are affecting everyone – including those who thought they had adequately planned for their retirement.”

Share the Light Fund
In addition to the grant funding, the company is also providing support for customers through its Share the Light Fund and energy efficiency programs.

The Share the Light Fund helps Florida residents in need pay for utility expenses such as electric, gas or wood. Employees, customers and Duke Energy shareholders contribute to these funds. Customers who would like to access funds can visit Share the Light Fund to learn more.

Energy Efficiency Assistance
The company’s customers – from families to factories – have depended on the energy efficiency programs to save both energy and money. These programs include our Neighborhood Energy Saver and Weatherization programs. To learn more about these programs, customers can visit income-qualified services.

Duke Energy will continue to engage with communities to learn how the company can make a positive impact for those it serves.

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050 net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Cell: 315.877.3031
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

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Duke Energy

Duke Energy

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. 

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