Raleigh, N.C. (Feb. 1, 2026) –North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, the 26 locally based utilities that collectively power 45% of the state’s land mass and serve 2.8 million North Carolinians, urge their consumer-members to conserve electricity Monday morning when energy demand is expected to peak.

“Extreme cold is blanketing North Carolina, driving unusually high energy demand that could place strain on the electric grid,” said Amadou Fall, Chief Operating Officer for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “We are coordinating with Duke Energy to manage potentially record-breaking demand, and one of the best ways to support grid stability is by all of us working together to reduce electricity use at home tomorrow morning.”

Co-op members can help protect the grid by taking the following actions:

• Lower the thermostat to a level that will not kick on auxiliary heat. Even lowering the temperature by a couple of degrees makes a difference.
• Delay the use of large appliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers.
• Turn off unnecessary lights, including outdoor lights and ambient lighting.
• Wait to charge electric vehicles until the middle of the day when demand is lower.

These actions will reduce demand for electricity and help protect the grid. By taking these steps, members are helping mitigate the potential need for more extreme measures and supporting reliable electricity for everyone.

“In addition to the steps co-op members take at home, we are working with the 26 co-ops across the state, as well as Duke Energy to manage the impact of these extreme conditions,” Fall said. “We will be deploying all available generation and other grid-connected resources in real-time as demand increases throughout the morning tomorrow.”

Cooperative members are thanked for their support and are encouraged to follow their local electric cooperative on social media channels for the most up-to-date information.

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North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives includes the family of organizations formed to support the state’s 26 community-based electric cooperatives, which collectively serve more than 2.8 million North Carolinians. These organizations are North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, a generation and transmission cooperative; North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, the cooperatives’ trade association; and Tarheel Electric Membership Association, Inc., a central purchasing and materials-supply cooperative