Duke Energy Appoints New President for South Carolina Operations

News Summary

Tim Pearson has officially become the president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina, overseeing the company’s financial performance and regulatory relations. With a strong background in government affairs and over a decade of experience, Pearson aims to enhance the company’s infrastructure and resilience initiatives while focusing on community engagement and energy innovation. Duke Energy plans to modernize its power grid and support customer needs amid rising energy demands in the region.

South Carolina Welcomes New Leadership at Duke Energy

Tim Pearson has officially taken over as the president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in South Carolina, a significant leadership role amidst rising energy demands. Duke Energy, a major energy provider in the region, serves approximately 835,500 electric retail customers and 164,000 natural gas customers in South Carolina.

In his new position, which he assumed in November 2024, Pearson holds the responsibility for the financial performance of Duke Energy’s regulated utilities within the state. His duties encompass leading efforts in state and local regulatory relations, managing government interactions, and fostering community affairs initiatives. This role is crucial as the company navigates policies and regulations to sustain its operations and economic contribution to the region.

Experience and Background

Before stepping into this leadership role, Pearson had a diverse background within Duke Energy, serving as a consultant and eventually becoming the vice president of government affairs in 2023. With over a decade-long experience in government and policy in South Carolina, he has advised various governors, including serving as chief of staff to former governor Nikki Haley and acting as a general consultant for Henry McMaster’s campaign. Pearson resides in Columbia, South Carolina, with his wife, Ashton, and their two children, a daughter and a son.

Duke Energy’s Commitment

Duke Energy remains focused on delivering reliable energy around the clock while striving to keep prices affordable and contributing to local economic vitality. The company prioritizes legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at fostering South Carolina’s economic growth, demonstrating its commitment to community welfare. Since 2021, Duke Energy has contributed over $2 million to combat hunger through the Duke Energy Foundation, underscoring its philanthropy efforts against crises like natural disasters and the pandemic.

Infrastructure and Resilience Initiatives

With the increase in significant weather events, Pearson notes the essential need for improvements in the power grid’s resilience. He references lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, which caused power outages affecting around 1.34 million customers across the Carolinas, with over 99% of outages reported in the Upstate area. In response, Duke Energy is proactively planning for South Carolina’s energy future by backing legislative proposals that advocate for new generation sources.

Innovative Energy Strategies

Amidst this evolving landscape, the proposed House Bill 3309 seeks to ensure sustained prosperity through a diverse energy mix. Duke Energy’s inclusive strategy incorporates various energy resources, such as hydrogen-capable natural gas, renewable energy, and advanced nuclear options. A significant area of focus for the company is enhancing the power grid through investments in self-healing technologies, which are designed to restore service quickly during outages. These advancements reportedly helped prevent approximately 130,000 customer outages in 2024, particularly during major storms.

Engagement and Support for Customers

Duke Energy also aims to engage its customer base using smart home devices and voluntary demand-response programs, allowing consumers to manage their energy use and associated costs more effectively. Moreover, the company is committed to providing support resources for customers facing financial difficulties, ensuring access to assistance programs. This commitment highlights Duke Energy’s intention to not only be a service provider but also a supportive community partner.

As Pearson leads Duke Energy’s operations, the focus remains on modernizing the grid while advancing cleaner energy technologies throughout its service areas. These initiatives set a robust foundation for meeting the growing energy demands in South Carolina while fostering environmental stewardship and community support.

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