Understanding Duke Energy’s Sales Data in 3Q16

Duke Energy (DUK) posted relatively better earnings based on the favorable weather in 3Q16. Duke has been consistently expanding its customer base, which effectively compensates for lower electricity consumption per user. The chart below shows Duke Energy’s volume trends and customer growth on a rolling 12-month basis.

All US utilities (XLU) have been experiencing sluggish industrial sales for the past several quarters. Duke’s electric sales in the residential sector witnessed a 1.1% rise, however, while its industrial sales experienced a mere 0.2% rise on a rolling 12-month basis.