- More than 10,000 crew members responding to power
outages.
- Extensive damage from high winds, heavy rain and flooding
across Carolinas.
- 850,000 customers affected, nearly 500,000
restored.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 1, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Duke Energy crews are working to
restore power to thousands of customers in North Carolina and South Carolina following Hurricane Ian.
Since the storm has passed and conditions have improved, power
line technicians and specialists from the Carolinas, other states,
and Canada, have been assessing
damage and restoring outages since Friday night. Duke Energy
restores power in a sequence starting with public health and safety
facilities and equipment that restores the greatest number of
customers.
More than 850,000 customers lost power during the storm. As of
Saturday morning, crews completed nearly 500,000 restorations; more
than 400,000 in North Carolina and
76,000 in South Carolina.
Duke Energy is moving thousands of crews to respond to the
hardest hit areas in and around Wake and Guilford counties. There is significant
structural damage which may hinder progress early on.
More than 70 percent of Duke Energy's 1,566 customers in
Edgecombe County lost power.
Other hard-hit counties included: Moore, Robeson, Vance, Wilson, Columbus, Stokes, Georgetown, Granville, Scotland, and Orange.
Estimated restoration times – once determined for specific areas
– will be posted
at duke-energy.com/outages/current-outages.
Customers who are registered to receive Duke Energy
text outage alerts will receive a text once an estimated
restoration time is established for their location.
"I want to thank our customers for their patience and
understanding as our crews work quickly and safely to restore
power," said Jason Hollifield, Duke
Energy's Carolinas storm director. "Every storm response is unique.
Our crews in the field are working quickly and carefully, supported
by many other teammates to deliver customer service,
communications, supplies, logistics and all the essential work it
takes to restore power to our customers."
Power restoration process
Click here for more information on how Duke Energy restores
power.
Customers who experience a power outage can report it the
following ways:
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges
may apply).
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile
device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy app on
your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
- Call Duke Energy's automated outage-reporting system:
800.769.3766 (800-POWERON)
More tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be
found
at duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety.
A checklist serves as a helpful guide, but it's critical before,
during and after a storm to follow the instructions and warnings of
emergency management officials in your area.
Tips to protect refrigerated food during power
outages
For customers who lose power and have full refrigerators and
freezers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends
the following:
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible
to maintain the cold temperature.
- A refrigerator can keep food cold for about four hours if it is
unopened. If the power will be out for more than four hours, use
coolers to keep refrigerated food cold.
- A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48
hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains
closed.
The FDA offers additional tips for proper food handling and
storage before, during and after a power outage
at www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-and-water-safety-during-power-outages-and-floods.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric
generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050
net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions.
In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid
enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power
generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories
about people, innovations, community topics and environmental
issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: Jeff Brooks
(Carolinas Media inquiries)
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_JeffB
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SOURCE Duke Energy