DUKE POWER CUSTOMERS USE RECORD AMOUNTS OF ENERGY

CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Yesterday the Duke Power system experienced unprecedented demand for electricity with customers using record amounts. Energy use surpassed the previous record set in summer 2002. Similar customer use is expected today with the continued heat wave. Currently we do not anticipate any problems meeting system demand.

Duke Power, like other Southern utilities, experiences peak demand in the summer and has a comprehensive plan to meet and manage energy needs during times of high demand.  Below are some of the actions being taken.

Duke Power monitors power supply and customer needs on a minute- by-minute basis and can produce power through a diverse generation mix of nuclear, fossil and hydro facilities.

• Employees are in constant communication with a number of utilities across the Southeast making it easy to share resources if needed.
• On Tuesday, July 26, Duke Energy implemented a proactive internal energy conservation plan for its facilities in North Carolina and South Carolina. For example, employees have been asked to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical equipment and air conditioning levels are being raised in certain areas.
• Duke Power could request voluntary customer conservation or activate any number of voluntary demand side management programs. Customers who choose to enroll in these programs receive a credit on their power bill for participating. In exchange, Duke Power can interrupt certain services to decrease power needs or activate standby generators if necessary. It is infrequent that these programs are activated, but they are an available resource.

Today marks the 11^th day of the heat wave affecting the Southeast and Duke Power customers. The system continues to perform well; however, there have been some isolated power outages where the weather may have been a contributing factor to equipment failures. When that occurs, crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power.

Customers who experience a power outage may report it by calling:  1-800-POWERON, or for our Spanish customers, call 1-866-4APAGON.

Duke Power, a business unit of Duke Energy, is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and provides safe, reliable, competitively priced electricity and value-added products and services to more than 2 million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. The company operates three nuclear generating stations, eight coal-fired stations, 31 hydroelectric stations and numerous combustion turbine units. Total system generating capability is approximately 19,900 megawatts. More information about Duke Power is available on the Internet at: http://www.dukepower.com.

Duke Energy is a diversified energy company with a portfolio of natural gas and electric businesses, both regulated and unregulated, and an affiliated real estate company. Duke Energy supplies, delivers and processes energy for customers in the Americas. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: http://www.duke-energy.com.

Contact:	Media Relations
Phone:	704/382-8333, option 1
24-Hour Phone:	704/382-8333, option 1
e-mail:	n/a