Clearwater residents dealing with higher summer electricity bills can now sign up for a free Duke Energy program that pays them back for letting the company briefly cycle down their appliances during peak demand.

Duke Energy representatives were in Clearwater on Tuesday, July 14, connecting customers to the company's EnergyWise Home program, which offers up to $141 a year in bill credits. The program installs a small device, at no cost, on central air conditioners, electric water heaters or pool pumps. During periods of high electricity demand, Duke Energy can temporarily reduce the energy draw from those appliances.

Residents feel the pinch of summer bills

Howard Lake, a Clearwater resident, said the timing matters. "They've gone up drastically from May to June because June was so hot," Lake said of his electricity bills.

Fellow Clearwater resident James Turner said his bills used to run "$160, maybe $200" before he replaced his roof, sealed air leaks and set his thermostat to 79 degrees. He now monitors air circulation closely.

Drew Scatizzi, customer service division manager for Duke Energy Florida, said the program helps the company avoid buying expensive power at a premium during peak hours. He called it "one of the cheapest ways we can manage the grid," noting that Duke Energy sets a new peak demand record "pretty much every year."

How the program works

The program is voluntary. Most cycling events happen on weekdays, not weekends or holidays. Water heaters and pool pumps can be cycled off for up to five hours. Central air conditioning units are cycled off for no more than 16.5 minutes every 30 minutes and are "rarely impacted," according to Duke Energy.

Bill credits are prorated based on electricity usage and are issued any month a customer exceeds 600 kilowatt-hours, even if no cycling event occurs that month.

To qualify, homes need centrally ducted electric air conditioning, or an electric water heater or pool pump compatible with the program's technology. Not all HVAC units qualify.

About 430,000 Duke Energy Florida customers statewide were enrolled as of March 2025, according to the company. Duke Energy Florida serves about 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area.

How to sign up

Clearwater residents can enroll online at duke-energy.com/home/products/energywise-home or by calling 888-282-9757. No in-person Clearwater enrollment event has been announced beyond the July 14 outreach.

Duke Energy also offers a free Home Energy Check audit and up to $3,800 in rebates for upgrades to attic insulation, windows, air ducts, water heaters and HVAC systems, which can be combined with EnergyWise Home enrollment.