New EEI Podcast: Duke Energy CEO Harry Sideris Talks Energy Affordability and Reliability

New EEI Podcast: Duke Energy CEO Harry Sideris Talks Energy Affordability and Reliability

New EEI Podcast: Duke Energy CEO Harry Sideris Talks Energy Affordability and Reliability

In the episode, Harry reflected on:

• Duke Energy's commitment to customer affordability: "Affordability is front and center on every customer's mind. A lot of folks are struggling to make ends meet… We always look at what is the most reliable solution-but also what is the lower-cost way we can deliver that reliability… We continue to look for opportunities to support our customers and lower their bills."
  
  
• Hurricane Helene response: "We have a mantra here at Duke that everybody has a storm role. So, when something like this happens, all 26,000 people get behind it and work tirelessly, 16-plus hours a day, to make sure that we're getting the lights back on for our customers, because that's what really helps them start rebuilding."
  
  
• Driving local economic growth: "In June, we announced the largest economic development project in the history of North Carolina with the Amazon Web Services data center going into Richmond County. It's a $10 billion investment with 500-plus jobs in a rural community that's going to make a huge impact."
  
  
• Helping those who need it most: "We spend a lot of time focusing on our vulnerable customers, those that have the biggest need. We have what we call an agency team that is focused on making sure that we are tying funds throughout the communities that we serve to those folks who need help paying their bills. Over $130 million a year of federal money, local money, as well as our foundation funding, goes into helping those vulnerable customers make ends meet and afford their electricity. Because electricity is such a vital part of everybody's life."

Click here to listen to the full interview, and explore our latest episodes below:

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• Smart Grid Technology and Connecting Power to First Nations Communities - featuring Edison International President CEO Pedro J. Pizarro; Southern California Edison Vice President of Transmission, Substations & Operations Vik Trehan; Fortis Inc. Executive Vice President of Operations and Technology Gary Smith; and Wataynikaneyap Power CEO Margaret Kenequanash
• Delivering a Reliable, Secure, Affordable Energy Future - featuring Pepco Holdings President and CEO Tyler Anthony

The Electric Perspectives podcast discusses the latest trends and issues shaping the electric power industry. Each episode features an interview with guests including leaders from EEI and our member companies, government and industry partners, and energy thought leaders and experts. Click here to listen to more episodes and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.