CINCINNATI, Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hot weather has returned to the region this week. The National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the mid-to-upper 90s across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, with conditions expected to feel as hot as 100 degrees or more in some areas and temperatures running more than 10 to 15 degrees above normal for early September.

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky are reminding customers about tools that can help them stay informed about their energy use and connect them with assistance programs if they need help.

High temperatures mean higher energy use

This reminder comes as stretches of extreme heat this summer have driven higher electricity use. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2026 was the warmest month on record in the contiguous United States, resulting in higher cooling needs across southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

• As temperatures rise, air conditioners work harder and use more energy to maintain the same indoor temperature. For example, when a thermostat is set to 72 degrees and the outdoor high is 82, the system bridges a 10-degree gap. When the outdoor high reaches 98, that gap grows to 26 degrees – and the system runs significantly longer to close it, using more energy, even though no one touched the dial.

Tools that help customers stay informed

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky customers can monitor and better understand their energy use by signing up for usage alerts.

• Usage Alerts help customers stay on top of their energy use by providing a text or email alert midway through their billing cycle showing how much electricity they have used so far, and a projected bill estimate if usage continues at the same rate through the end of their billing cycle. By receiving this information before the billing cycle ends, customers have time to adjust their energy usage and potentially reduce costs before their bill arrives.

Ways to manage energy usage

In addition to usage alerts, customers can use these no- to low-cost tips to save energy during this heat wave:

• Set their thermostat to the highest comfortable setting to use less energy. Even a few degrees can make it easier on their cooling systems and their wallet. When they leave, raise it a few degrees, then gradually lower it when they return.
  
  
• Use cool water for laundry whenever possible. It helps reduce energy use and keeps their home cooler.
  
  
• Use ovens or stovetops during cooler morning or evening hours. During the day, try an air fryer, slow cooker or outdoor grill instead. They're great alternatives that won't heat up homes.
  
  
• Close drapes or blinds during hot, sunny days to cool their house and prevent natural sunlight from warming the home.
  
  
• Operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction to push cool air back down into the room.  

Help is available

Customers who need help paying their bill are encouraged to contact Duke Energy to learn about payment arrangements and assistance programs.

Resources include:

• Payment Assistance Finder, a free online tool that directs customers to local assistance resources in their area through a simple ZIP code search. 
  
  
• Installment payment plans for customers needing flexibility.
  
  
• The Pick Your Due Date tool that lets you choose what day you want your bill to be due each month.
  
  
• Customers can also request a due date extension to provide additional flexibility.

Customers can learn more about tools, assistance programs and other resources on Duke Energy's Summer Energy Solutions webpage.

Our view

"Hot summers, particularly during stretches of extreme heat like we're expecting this week, can lead to higher energy use for many households," said Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky president. "We want customers to know we're here to help, whether that's through tools that explain energy usage or by connecting them with assistance resources when they need additional support."

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky
Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky, subsidiaries of Duke Energy, provide electric service to 910,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 560,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities. 

Contact: Matt Martin
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DukeEnergyOH_KY
Date: Sept. 2, 2026

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SOURCE Duke Energy