The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced it will issue an automated payment to thousands of eligible households to help with winter heating expenses via the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. The automated payment will be issued beginning Dec. 1 and is designed to help eligible seniors and people with disabilities access winter heating assistance in a safe and socially distanced manner during the COVID-19 pandemic. “More of our neighbors may be facing financial hardships because of COVID-19, and this funding can help eligible households with their heating expenses this winter,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “We want to ensure seniors andRead More →

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Here to help through the changes ahead As our communities take careful and deliberate steps toward business as usual, Piedmont Natural Gas is doing the same. Here’s what you can expect as we move into this next phase together. Giving additional time We realize that the financial impact of the pandemic is far from over. That’s why we’re taking a gradual approach, giving those customers who need extra time an opportunity to reach out for assistance. At the onset of the pandemic, we proactively paused disconnections and many of our standard fees. Earlier this week, we announced our intent to resume regular billing and paymentRead More →

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Update: Approximately 7,400 customers are without power right now. “We’re hoping to be through with #Isaias soon so we can redeploy our crews for damage assessments, restorations & repairs,” the city said on social media. Power outages were widespread in New Bern early Tuesday morning as Tropical Storm Isaias approached the city. “Once conditions improve, we’ll start deploying crews to assess the damage & begin restorations & repairs,” the city announced on its social media just before 2 a.m. as the outages started to pile up. Wind gusts well above 40 mph were to blame. While power outages were widespread, most of the city stillRead More →

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Please review these important reminders to stay safe around natural gas meters and appliances, especially during severe weather. Call Piedmont Natural Gas if you see wind-related damage: If you see or suspect wind or tree damage to natural gas lines, call us at 800-752-7504 or call 911. If water has entered your home: Do not attempt to disconnect, clear debris from or work on any natural gas appliance, including your meter.Do not attempt to relight any of your natural gas appliances. Instead, call 800-752-7504. If your natural gas appliances are damaged by water: Natural gas appliances damaged by water may need to be replaced accordingRead More →

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Next week, Gov. Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 142 will expire, and normal utility billing practices, including fees/penalties/residential disconnects will resume. Gov. Cooper has reinforced that customers’ bills are not being forgiven under his executive orders. Customers are still responsible for paying for all usage between March 31 and July 29 and will have a six-month period beginning July 30 to pay off unpaid balances that came due March 31-July 29. It is essential that any customers who have accumulated balances during this time and are struggling to pay their utility bills – or those facing disconnection soon – contact the city as soon as possibleRead More →

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Important COVID-19 updates Our highest responsibility to you is the delivery of reliable natural gas service. That’s always important, but never more so than now as we navigate this unprecedented time together. Beyond that, we are committed to finding additional ways to help protect and serve the whole community, and especially those who are most vulnerable. Here’s an update on some of what we’re doing. Financial relief We understand that many customers may be facing unexpected financial hardships. To help, we have suspended disconnections for nonpayment for home and business accounts during this time. Effective March 21, we will waive all fees for late paymentsRead More →

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An important COVID-19 update: Working to serve you and ensure the safety of our workforce and communities. At Piedmont Natural Gas, the safety and well-being of our customers and employees is a top priority. As your natural gas provider, we remain committed to delivering the vital service you need while helping to protect the health of the communities we serve. We recognize some customers may be facing unusual financial hardships, and we are suspending disconnections for nonpayment effective immediately. This applies to all home and business accounts in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. We are also offering increased payment flexibility for customers who needRead More →

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As Hurricane Dorian heads up the Carolina coastline, Duke Energy is projecting it could cause more than 700,000 power outages – some possibly lasting several days – based on the storm’s current forecasted track. The slow-moving, powerful hurricane will bring tropical-storm-force winds and rain over a large portion of the Carolinas. The company projects power outages are likely to occur Thursday and Friday: In North Carolina’s Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill). In South Carolina’s Pee Dee region (Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg). Along the entire coasts of both North Carolina and South Carolina – extending to communities up to 100 miles inland. PowerRead More →

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The Board of Aldermen meets Tuesday to consider the adjustment.  Here is the background information:   CITY OF NEW BERN BOARD OF ALDERMEN WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 12, 2019- 3:00 P.M. CITY HALL COURTROOM 300 POLLOCK STREET     Discussion and Consideration of Wholesale Electric Cost INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD CALL 639-7501 NO LATER THAN 3 P.M. THE DATE OF THE MEETING   Background   ELECTRICITIES  I N O R T H C A R O L I N A, I N C, To: North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency Board of Commissioners and Alternates FROM: Kathy L. Moyer, Vice President, Operations DATE: January 28, 2019 SUBJECT:Read More →

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When power is restored, reduce your consumption and save on reheating costs by adjusting your thermostat two degrees above the current temperature inside your home. Once your thermostat reaches that temperature, continue increasing it by two degree increments until you reach your desired setting. This will keep the heat strips from coming on. For example, if your thermostat says 62 degrees when the power comes back on, increase it to 64 degrees. When the temperature inside your home reaches 64 degrees, increase the thermostat to 66 degrees … and so on until you get back to your desired setting.Read More →

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