Reduced energy costs for North Carolina families under Duke Energy's novel plan
In a bid to support low-income families, Duke Energy's Customer Assistance Program has been making a significant impact across North Carolina. The program, which began in 2016, has assisted approximately 1,400 homes with weatherization improvements, such as sealing air leaks, replacing doors, and installing new heat pumps.
One of the beneficiaries of this initiative is Talia Boyd, a home health care worker living just outside Asheville. Her home has undergone weatherization improvements, thanks to the Customer Assistance Program. These improvements have significantly reduced her monthly utility bill with Duke Energy, cutting it in half.
The bill credit alone provides over $500 for a year, a vital financial relief for families struggling to make ends meet. The Customer Assistance Program offers a monthly credit of up to $42 on bills for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
Talia Boyd was found through Duke Energy's Customer Assistance Program by the organization United Way of North Carolina. The program has supported over 100,000 households in North Carolina since its inception in 2016. Across the state, thousands of households have received similar services over the same time frame, mostly from community action agencies deploying federal dollars.
The Customer Assistance Program is part of a side deal Duke struck in 2023 to lessen the blow of its rate hikes. It refers virtually every household receiving help to a local entity for free efficiency upgrades. In Talia Boyd's case, the weatherization improvements were carried out by Energy Savers Network, a nonprofit serving Buncombe County and neighboring counties.
The program's potential reach is impressive. Advocates estimate that it has the potential to serve 100,000 customers or more annually. However, the bill assistance program initially benefited less than half the number of households forecast, due to a drop in funding for the federal aid buckets, not a lack of need.
Talia Boyd's case is unique in the context of politicians turning against the clean energy transition in low-income communities and elsewhere. Her story is a rare piece of good news, demonstrating the positive impact that such initiatives can have on the lives of those who need it most.
The Customer Assistance Program does not require administrative expenses such as vetting participants for eligibility, as Duke has a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services. North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services manages the two funds from which the program draws its support.
Duke began automatically providing the credit to any customers who'd benefited in the prior year from either the Crisis Intervention Program or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. This streamlined process ensures that eligible households receive the assistance they need without undue delay.
In conclusion, Duke Energy's Customer Assistance Program is making a real difference in the lives of thousands of North Carolinians, helping them to reduce their energy costs and improve their living conditions. The program's potential reach is vast, and with continued support, it could make a significant impact on the state's low-income communities.
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