Duke Energy has requested that its Florida customers voluntarily reduce their electricity usage between 5 and 9 a.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The company cites the coldest air in the state since 2018 as the reason for this appeal, with unusually high demand for electricity across the Southeast.
The request is intended to help protect the power grid and maintain electric service for as many customers as possible during the cold spell. Customers are encouraged to lower their thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting, avoid using large appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers during peak hours, turn off unnecessary devices and lights, and charge electric vehicles midday when demand is lower.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, stated: “We know power is an essential part of our customers’ everyday lives, and we recognize that reducing electricity usage isn’t an easy ask. 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 approximately 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers over a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida. The company owns about 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves about 8.4 million electric utility customers across six states and operates a total of roughly 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity nationwide. Its natural gas utilities serve another 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company continues efforts toward an energy transition by investing in grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources including natural gas, nuclear power, renewables, and energy storage solutions. More information can be found at duke-energy.com or through the Duke Energy News Center.
