How Energy Works

How energy works
Electricity explained
Generating electricity
Nuclear Energy Facilities
About 20% of America’s electricity is generated from nuclear energy. Some states such as South Carolina generate more than 50% of their electricity from nuclear energy.Oil and Gas Electricity
Most of the electricity in the United States is generated using fossil fuels. Duke Energy operates a system of generating plants fueled by oil or natural gas to supplement the power supply during peak times.
Energy From Coal
Coal plants have helped Duke Energy reliably meet customer needs for more than a century and represent about 27% of our generation portfolio. As we pursue cleaner energy technologies to meet increasing customer demand, we are shifting our fuel mix toward more low- and no-carbon fuel sources and relying less on coal-fired units.
Pumped Storage Hydro Plants
Electricity itself cannot be stored, but the potential to create electricity can. Pumped-storage plants make it possible for us to store the potential energy of water and quickly deliver it when it is needed.
Conventional Hydro Plants
Inexpensive and environmentally friendly, hydroelectric plants harness energy produced by flowing water. While hydroelectricity accounts for only a small percentage of the electricity used by our customers, it is still an important resource.
Delivering electricity
Delivering Electricity
Power generation is a complex process. Delivering electricity to your home or business depends on sophisticated distribution systems in which generating stations and power lines work together.
Delivering Natural Gas
Safe, sound and underground. Duke Energy distributes natural gas to more than 1.5 million retail customers in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Natural gas is a clean, abundant and supplemental source of energy.