Duke Energy offers free home inspections to cut summer bills
Duke Energy’s free home assessments could trim Wake County cooling bills by an average of $126 a year, with weatherstripping and thermostat tweaks among the fastest fixes.
Duke Energy is offering Wake County homeowners a free in-home energy assessment as summer heat drives air-conditioning use higher and pushes monthly bills up. The Home Energy House Call visit is valued at $250 and can uncover simple changes that help households spend less to stay cool.
During the assessment, a third-party energy advisor checks for waste around attic doors, window caulking, furnaces, HVAC equipment and showerheads. The visit can also include tools such as a thermogun to spot where heat is entering the home. Duke Energy representative Caroline Fountain said the thermostat often accounts for about half of a household’s energy bill, and that air conditioners spend much of their time pulling humidity out of the air, not just lowering the temperature.
Weather and other seasonal factors can increase bills even when customers do not change their habits, and setting the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature can help cut cooling costs.
The assessment can lead to free upgrades such as weatherstripping, smart power strips, furnace filter whistles and showerheads. The average assessment lowers a household energy bill by $126 annually.
The free assessment is aimed first at qualified homeowners. Renters can access its North Carolina weatherization program only with owner approval, and only if household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or the household qualifies for an income-qualified government assistance program. That weatherization program can include free energy conservation measures, while North Carolina’s Weatherization Assistance Program can cover insulation, air sealing and heating or cooling repairs or replacements for income-eligible households. Wake County government also offers utility bill assistance programs for residents who qualify for help paying electric and gas bills.
Central North Carolina has been in a run of record heat, and CBS 17 weather coverage marked the hottest Fourth of July on record. In February 2025, Duke Energy provided nearly $90 million in energy bill assistance to North Carolina customers in 2024, helping more than 114,000 households.
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