North Carolina » Save Energy & Money » Energy & Money Saving Offers » Power Manager® Energy & Money Saving Offers Home Energy House Call What is Power Manager? Power Manager� is a voluntary program that pays you for reducing your air conditioning use during times of high demand for electricity. Sign up for Power Manager or call 888.463.5022 to enroll by phone. Power Manager is currently not available in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon or Swain counties in North Carolina.Residential time-of-use, Net Metering and Small Customer Generator customers are unable to participate in the Power Manager program. You will receive $32 in bill credits each year for your participation (an $8 credit on your electric bills from July through October). You will help preserve the environment and keep electric costs low by reducing the demand for electricity and delaying the need to build additional power plants in our region. How the Program Works

Duke Energy will install a small device near your central air conditioner's outside unit. Using this device, your air conditioner may be temporarily interrupted for a portion of each half hour during the summer when demand for electricity may reach critical levels. Your air conditioner will be turned off and on in coordination with other Power Manager customers to reduce the overall demand for electricity. Power Manager is an easy way to do something positive for yourself and the environment. To learn more, see the Power Manager FAQs. How to Get Started To sign up for Power Manager, you must: Be a Duke Energy residential customer. Own your single-family home. Have a functional central air conditioning unit with an outside compressor. There are two ways to sign up for Power Manager: Call us at 888.463.5022 to enroll by phone. Enroll online using our Power Manager Enrollment Form General Information about Power Manager

If you are enrolled in Duke Energy�s Power Manager Program, you are one of 260,000 customers who help reduce power use when it�s needed most in our communities. how to clean an ac unit filterDuring these cycling times, customers oftenair conditioner units free standing ask for more details on the program and for air conditioning tips. air conditioning units outside unit not workingHere is some information you can print and keep for future reference. If you have any questions about Duke Energy�s Power Manager Program call 877.392.4848 to speak to a representative. For cycling event information, please call 800.832.3169. During a Power Manager cycling event, it is normal for the home to gain a few degrees in temperature.

The temperature increase will depend on many variables — the outside temperature, the size of your air conditioner, sunlight coming through windows and the length of the cycling event. After the cycling period ends, your air conditioner may run continuously until your home reaches your thermostat temperature. Power Manager Tips to Keep Cool on a Hot Day Keeping cool and comfortable in the summer and watching your electricity usage can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help keep your home comfortable, not only during a cycling event, but during the hot days of the summer. Keep your curtains and blinds fully closed on the sunny side of the home. Especially if you know you are going to be away from home and the forecast calls for hot weather, close all your window coverings for the entire day. Many air conditioners are sized large enough to cool when the curtains are open. you close the curtains, you have �extra� cooling capacity and the air conditioner does not need to run as

often to keep your home comfortable. Minimize door traffic to the outside. The outside air is not only hot, it�s also very humid. can add extra load on your air conditioning, causing your bill to increase. Ceiling fans and other air circulating fans can improve your comfort. New energy efficient fans are best as they produce less heat. Whenever the home is closed for air conditioning, do not use the large, wholeThese fans cause inside, conditioned air to be replaced by outside, humid air. If you know your air conditioner is being cycled, postpone activities that add heat and/or extra moisture to your indoor air. Examples of heat sources are unnecessary lighting, ironing or baking. Running the clothes dryer may reduce your comfort in two ways — it produces unwanted heat and when it exhausts air to the outside, this causes the home to draw in make-up air which is warm and humid. Other sources of moisture are cooking, canning fruits and vegetables or taking a shower or bath.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) use much less electricity and produce much less heat than Insulate your air conditioning and heating ducts. This is a very important energy saving measure for any home where the duct-work is not inside the insulated shell. Air conditioning ducts located in an attic need the most attention. Ducts exposed to extreme attic temperatures can add 10 to 40 percent to you heating and cooling load and your costs. These ducts should be completely buried in attic insulation or wrapped with at least six inches of insulation. NC Power Manager Regulations (pdf, 17 KB) Please choose your stateWelcome to the Comfort Zone Blog Ways to Help Prevent Frozen Air Conditioners Avoid Air Conditioner Meltdown There is nothing better than entering a nice cool house on a hot summer day. And few things are worse than sweltering in the heat as you wait for the HVAC technician to come fix your broken air conditioner, knowing it is going to cost hundreds of dollars to repair.

The most common reason for a sudden air conditioner meltdown is frozen pipes and tubes. Why do Air Conditioners Freeze There are lots of things that can cause your AC unit to freeze. A qualified AC professional can help you find the source of the problem, but it does not hurt to understand how freezing occurs so you can take steps to prevent it. Refrigerant Charge: If your AC is running low on refrigerant or the fluid is improperly charged, the system can freeze. Leaks are a common cause of refrigerant problems; these can occur when moving parts rub together or vibrate over time. Leaks are also likely to be found where fittings and shoulder joints are loose. Only a certified HVAC technician should check refrigerant levels and recharge the system if necessary. Airflow: Restricted airflow can cause the evaporative coils to get so dirty that they drop to a temperature below freezing. Humidity in the surrounding air then collects and freezes around the coils. If your air filters have not been changed in more than three months, airflow can be significantly reduced;

undersized ducts are another common cause of poor airflow. Outdoor Temperature: Running your air conditioner on cool days can cause the unit to freeze up. Most central AC systems are not designed to work properly when outside temperatures dip below 60ºF. How to Prevent Freezing Now that you understand the most common causes of air conditioner freezing, you can take positive steps to prevent problems in the future. Refrigerant Charge: To keep fluid levels functional, contact a qualified professional to perform a thorough test on your system. A technician will be able to look for leaks, repair damaged or weakened parts, refill coolant and make sure you AC is in good working condition. It is always a good idea to schedule maintenance before peak season to avoid high prices or emergency service charges. Airflow: Change the air filters regularly, usually about every three months or so. This is the simplest, most cost-effective way to ensure your air conditioner does not freeze.

If you notice that the AC’s evaporative coils are already dirty, you will need to have them cleaned by a professional. You may be able to vacuum out some of the debris yourself, but some have coils that need to be removed for proper cleaning. Outdoor Temperature: This one is pretty simple; just do not use your air conditioner when the outside temperature is below 60º. Not only will you prevent your system from freezing, but you will also save energy and money on utility costs by just opening the windows on cool days. So, when you are ready to install or replace your home’s air conditioner or heater system, please contact Horizon Services. Our friendly and experienced team of Home Comfort Consultants knows air conditioning and heating systems inside and out. Additional Information from Horizon Services…My Air Conditioner is Frozen! Save Energy by Unplugging Household Devices and Appliances 7 Things in Your House That Could Explode Horizon Air Conditioning Services