CHARLOTTE – The merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy has combined two utilities under one name, but the operations of the company remain as two units.

Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks says, while it’s a possibility that one day the company will merge the entire function of the two utilities into one, the main focus now is on bringing the internal operations together.

“We have Duke Energy Carolinas in the western half of the state and then Duke Energy Progress—which is the former Progress Energy footprint—that serves customers in the eastern half of the state and Asheville,” Brooks says.

Duke Energy now serves 3.2 million customers in 83 of the state’s 100 counties and is the nation’s largest utility company.

Brooks says it helps to remember that if you were a customer of Duke Energy before the merger, you’re still under the Duke Energy utility; if you were a Progress Energy customer, you are now under the Duke Energy Progress utility.

He says a major positive to the merger is the distribution of electricity.

“We, for example, now jointly dispatch our generation fleet—so in other words, our power plants,” Brooks says. “Even though they belong to the two separate utilities, we think of them as one fleet in the way that we dispatch them day-to-day to support customer needs.”

Brooks says the company has recognized the growing pains. He says one of the biggest problem areas is in the reporting of power outages.

“Outage reporting has been one area where we’ve seen some instances of customers getting confused as to which system they should use,” Brooks says. “But the main thing that helps is if they go to duke-energy.com, for the customer it will ask them where are you located? So it will ask them to enter their service address, or they can select which area they’re in, and once they do that, it can remember where they were when they come back to the sites.”

Duke Energy provides customer service for both utilities for questions about billing and payments, moving service, outages, and other topics.

Duke Energy Carolinas Customer Service

Duke Energy Progress Customer Service

Related Stories
‹
UNC Making Progress on Reducing Emissions, But Coal Replacement Still Far Off at Steam Plant
During a recent panel updating where UNC stands in those efforts, sustainability officials pointed to improvements in overall and energy-specific emissions rates – but detailed the challenges of moving entirely away from using coal in the short-term.
Duke Energy Grid Will Beat the Heat
Despite the high temperatures across North Carolina, the heat may not pose much of a problem for Duke Energy’s power grids.
Duke Energy Files Motion to Dismiss Carrboro's Climate Change 'Deception' Lawsuit
Duke Energy filed a motion to dismiss a Town of Carrboro lawsuit against it in Orange County, the first legal response by the energy giant.
A Big Boost for a Climate Solution: Electricity Made From the Heat of the Earth
One method of making electricity cleanly to address climate change has been quietly advancing and on Tuesday it hit a milestone.
Duke Energy Prefers Meeting North Carolina Carbon Target by 2035. But Regulators Have Final Say
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Duke Energy Corp. offered Tuesday updated proposals on how it would meet mandated greenhouse gas emissions reductions in North Carolina through increasing solar and wind power generation and replacing outgoing coal-fired plants in part with new nuclear and hydrogen technologies. A landmark 2021 law directed the North Carolina Utilities Commission to create an ongoing […]
Developers Cancel Long-Delayed, $8B Atlantic Coast Pipeline
The developers of the long-delayed, $8 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline announced the cancellation of the multi-state natural gas project Sunday, citing uncertainties about costs, permitting and litigation. Despite a victory last month at the United States Supreme Court over a critical permit, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy said in a news release that “recent developments have created an unacceptable […]
Google, Apple, Facebook Send Letter to NC Legislators
Google, Apple and Facebook sent a letter to North Carolina legislators urging them not to change the state’s renewable energy laws.  State representatives are considering a bill that green energy advocates say would negatively impact the renewable energy sector. The tech giants’ letter urges legislators not to adopt House Bill 332. The proposed legislation would make […]
Duke Energy Progress Merger Still Not Complete Online
The Duke Energy Progress merger is at the heart of power outage confusion for Orange County customers Sunday.
Rare Greenhouse Gas Law in North Carolina Could Get Pulled Back by GOP Legislators
North Carolina enacted an energy law in 2021 that directed power plant emissions be sharply reduced. Now it's aiming to repeal a key element.
Duke Energy Grants $25,000 to Orange County Sustainability Team
Duke Energy has awarded $25,000 to the Orange County Sustainability Team with the purpose of supporting the county’s Climate Action Plan.  Specifically, the money will go toward an initiative focused on heat mapping analysis and tree planting. With the initiative, the county aims to partner with residents of heat-stressed areas to address the issue of […]
›