CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy
has received the Edison Electric Institute's (EEI) "Emergency
Recovery Award" for the company's outstanding power restoration
efforts after Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina and South Carolina in September 2018.
The Emergency Recovery Award is given to select EEI member
companies to recognize their extraordinary efforts to restore power
to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather
conditions or other natural events.
The winners are chosen by a panel of judges following an
international nomination process. Duke Energy received the award
this week during EEI's Winter Board
and Chief Executives Meeting in Palm
Beach, Fla.
"Hurricane Florence caused historic flooding along the
Carolinas' coastal communities and more than 1.8 million of our
customers lost power," said Harry
Sideris, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief
distribution officer.
"While flooding presented some unique challenges to our
restoration efforts, we were able to restore power to nearly 1.2
million customers in the first three days after the storm made
landfall. We are forever grateful for our customers' patience and
kindness during that time, and for our government partners and the
dozens of utilities who worked alongside us to restore power and
normalcy to our communities," Sideris said.
"The dedication of Duke Energy's crews to restore service
throughout the Carolinas after Hurricane Florence illustrates our
industry's commitment to customers," said EEI President
Tom Kuhn. "Duke Energy's crews
worked tirelessly in hazardous conditions to quickly and safely
restore power. They are truly deserving of this award."
Duke Energy continues to learn from and improve its performance
after every storm.
For example, after Hurricane Irma in 2017, the company developed
a way to use geographic information system (GIS) technology to
monitor changing road conditions to help crews reach power outage
locations safely and quickly. (See related story:
https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/this-technology-helped-crews-improve-hurricane-response)
The company also has improved communication with customers after
major storms, updating them with proactive text messages and
emails.
About Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is one of the largest energy
holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees
and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is
transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy
grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas
infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and
communities it serves.
A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018
"World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's
Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news
releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials.
Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people,
innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke
Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About EEI
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned
electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million
Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric
power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities
across the United States. In
addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 65 international
electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of
industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate
Members.
Contact: Paige Layne
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Twitter - @DE_PaigeL
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SOURCE Duke Energy