-
Final outreach underway to 3,000 Duke Energy customers
-
Transferring customers reminded to complete PRECO’s online membership application by Tuesday, July 30
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a new territorial agreement affecting Duke Energy accounts in Hardee County and a small area of Polk County, north of Bowling Green. As a result, Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO) will begin providing electric service to approximately 3,000 Duke Energy customers effective July 30, 2019.
Delivering safe, reliable energy is a priority for both companies and efforts to make the transition as smooth as possible have been underway since late summer 2018. Final notifications by mail, email and phone to those affected by the change are presently underway. Transferring Duke Energy customers are reminded to complete a PRECO membership application no later than Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at www.preco.coop/duke-transition or to call 1-800-282-3824 for an application.
The transfer of accounts will be completed on July 30, 2019 and PRECO will exchange customer meters between July 30 and August 2, 2019. This exchange will result in a brief service interruption as PRECO and Duke Energy representatives visit each property, remove the existing Duke Energy meter and replace it with a new PRECO meter.
Customers with questions about the transfer are invited to contact Duke Energy at 888- 442-0014 or PRECO at 800-282-3824.
About Territorial Agreements
To avoid construction of duplicate electrical facilities, territorial agreements establish the geographic areas where each utility is the exclusive provider of electric service. The service boundaries between Duke Energy and PRECO were revised to ensure customers continue to receive safe and reliable electric service. In accordance with Florida state statutes, changes in territorial agreements must be approved by the Florida PSC. Final approval for the revised Duke Energy and PRECO territorial agreement was received on February 22, 2019.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida owns and operates a diverse generation mix, including renewables, providing about 8,800 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.8 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.
With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Fla., Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.
Peace River Electric Cooperative
Peace River Electric Cooperative (PRECO), a Touchstone Energy® distribution electric cooperative headquartered in Wauchula, Fla., provides electric service and energy solutions to more than 45,000 member/consumers in 10 central Florida counties: Brevard, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Osceola, Polk and Sarasota. Through almost 4,000 miles of power lines, the electric cooperative has been in business since 1940 as a member-owned, not-for-profit organization.
Contacts:
Janine Saunders, Duke Energy
E-mail: Janine.bressette-saunders@duke-energy.com
Phone: 727-820-4411 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Charlotte Heston
Peace River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
E-mail: charlotte.heston@preco.coop
Phone: 863-767-4601