CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 9, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- As of 9 a.m., Duke
Energy has restored power to more than 180,000 customers impacted
by severe storms that occurred Wednesday evening and Thursday
morning. The majority of customers are expected to be restored by
tonight, with some customers in the hardest-hit areas experiencing
power outages into Friday.
"We are committed to working as quickly and safely as possible
to get the lights back on for our customers," said Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy's Carolinas storm
director. "Our crews will continue to restore power after many
areas experienced extensive structural damage."
Duke Energy will continue to update estimated restoration times
throughout the day for all customers.
"We appreciate our customers' patience as we work to restore
power and encourage them to prepare for another round of
potentially damaging storms in the Carolinas later today," said
Hollifield.
Important safety tips
- If you are driving and come across a utility crew working along
the road to repair power, move over or slow down to keep crews and
yourself safe. It's not just a good idea – it's the law.
- Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging.
Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs, fences or
anything in contact with lines.
- If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the
car. If you MUST exit the car due to a fire or other immediate
life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car
and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is
touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
- A generator can be very useful during a power outage but
remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure
safe and proper operation.
- Please watch for utility crews and turn the generator off when
crews are in your area. The electrical load on the power lines can
be hazardous for crews making repairs.
- If rising water threatens your home – or if you evacuate your
home – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse
box.
- If your home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot
reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a
licensed electrician. If there is damage, an electrician will need
to make repairs and obtain verification from your local building
inspection authority before power can be restored.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from
downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over – and
don't stand near – downed power lines.
- Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can
potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large
pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another
path.
Outage reporting
To stay informed about the status of power outages, customers
should sign up for Outage Alerts. If already enrolled, take this
time to ensure all contact information is accurate and up to date
using the Manage Alerts link at duke-energy.com/OutageAlerts.
Customers experiencing an outage during a storm can report it
the following ways:
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile
device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app – download the Duke Energy App
from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may
apply).
- Call the automated outage reporting system at
800.228.8485.
- Customer service specialists will be available to manage
customer calls should the need arise, with additional corporate
responders from across all Duke Energy jurisdictions available to
assist as needed.
- For storm or power restoration updates, follow Duke Energy on
Twitter (@DukeEnergy) and Facebook (Duke Energy).
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune
150 company headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies.
The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities
serve 1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and
nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke
Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn,
Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about
the people and innovations powering our energy transition.
Duke Energy Carolinas
Duke Energy Carolinas, a
subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 20,700 megawatts of energy
capacity, supplying electricity to 2.9 million residential,
commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile
service area in North Carolina and
South Carolina.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy