CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Piedmont Natural Gas announced two rate changes in South Carolina, which together will decrease the average residential customer’s bill by approximately $16 per month compared to last winter.

For the average residential customer in South Carolina, these rate changes will result in an annual bill decrease of approximately 14 percent.

The new rates became effective on Nov. 1, 2018, and include the flow-through of tax reform benefits to customers associated with the 2017 Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Piedmont requests occasional rate adjustments to reflect changes in the commodity price of the natural gas purchased for its customers. Piedmont passes through fuel cost to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

Details for the tax reform and the natural gas commodity price changes are outlined on Piedmont’s website.

Winter 2018-2019 Outlook

According to the annual Winter Fuels Outlook from the Energy Information Association (EIA), temperatures for the upcoming winter period (November 2018 through March 2019) are expected to be roughly the same as last winter.

Residential customers could see higher or lower monthly bills than forecast depending on actual winter weather. Colder weather typically increases the amount of natural gas that a residential customer consumes.

Customers can estimate their home’s energy consumption and compare appliance operating costs using Piedmont’s free, online energy-saving tools at piedmontng.com/EnergySavingTools.

Piedmont’s energy efficiency programs are outlined at piedmontng.com/Rebates, and here are the company’s top five tips for saving energy this winter:

• Have your heating system inspected each year by a qualified professional to ensure it is working properly.
• Upgrade your old furnace to a new high-efficiency model (newer models can be up to 98 percent efficient).
• Install a programmable thermostat to maximize your energy savings.
• Change or clean your furnace filters each month during the heating season.
• Seal leaks around doors and windows with caulk or weather stripping to reduce unwanted drafts.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company whose principal business is the distribution of natural gas to more than 1 million residential, commercial and industrial customers, as well as power plants, in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Piedmont is routinely recognized by J.D. Power for excellent customer satisfaction and was named by Cogent Reports in 2017 as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. 

Piedmont Natural Gas is a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK).

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

The company’s Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2018 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ 2018 “America’s Best Employers” list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Jennifer Sharpe                                        
Piedmont Natural Gas
24-Hour Media Line: 877.348.3612                           
jennifer.sharpe@duke-energy.com               

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SOURCE Piedmont Natural Gas