- Lineworkers and other storm responders continue rebuilding
grid in hardest-hit areas of N.C. mountains where 84,000 customers
remain without power
- Western N.C. grid reconstruction efforts to be aligned
with stakeholders and deployed out of local command center
- Duke Energy workers restored more than 3.1 million customer
outages in the Carolinas, Florida
and Midwest since Helene hit on Sept.
26
Editor's note: Visit the Duke Energy News
Center for downloadable B-roll and
high-resolution images.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 8, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy crews have been all-hands-on-deck since
the moment Helene exited the Carolinas. The company has
successfully restored electric service to most customers in the
upstate of South Carolina and the
majority of those who can receive power in western North Carolina. While Duke Energy workers have
made substantial progress overall, extremely difficult and targeted
work lies ahead before the company can restore additional customers
in the hardest-hit communities.
"Sadly, Helene's devastation is unlike anything we've ever
experienced in the western parts of the Carolinas," said
Jason Hollifield, Duke Energy's
storm director for the Carolinas. "While we continue our vital work
to help restore power and work with stakeholders to rebuild
communities, I want to pause to thank our customers.
"We greatly appreciate the patience, support and kindness you've
shown – and continue to show – toward the men and women who are
still working around the clock to rebuild the grid and restore
power."
Restoration updates
As of noon, Duke Energy remains
focused on restoring service to approximately 6,500 customers in
South Carolina and 83,800 in
North Carolina without power due
to Helene. The company will continue to communicate with impacted
customers via email, text and outbound call as their site-specific
details become available.
Many North Carolina customers
who remain without power are unable to receive service due to major
damage to their homes and businesses and substantial infrastructure
damage in their communities. In some cases, homes, businesses and
critical power grid equipment no longer physically exist. Also, in
some places, Duke Energy remains unable to access and assess areas
due to road and infrastructure destruction and the critical need to
coordinate with major ongoing disaster response efforts.
"We've shifted to a targeted approach for our operations and
efforts across western North
Carolina," said Hollifield. "And we continue to work with
local, state and federal agencies to coordinate and support
rebuilding communities, especially in the mountain region."
Duke Energy has restored 2.6 million customer outages –
including 1.2 million in South
Carolina and 1.4 million in North
Carolina – since Helene impacted the region on Sept. 27.
The storm, which made landfall in Florida on Sept.
26, resulted in more than 3.1 million Duke Energy customer
outages across the six states it operates electric utilities, from
Florida through the Carolinas up
to the Midwest.
Duke Energy to lead longer-term recovery efforts from western
N.C. command center
A western N.C., facility will serve as
the company's base of operations while workers continue rebuilding
the infrastructure needed to restore the remaining North Carolina customers impacted by
Helene.
"Our engineers, designers, project managers and others will be
in one place as they work, plan and make strategic decisions that
aid in an efficient reconstruction of the power grid in the
hardest-hit areas," said Hollifield. "It also allows us to
collaborate with national, state and local government stakeholders
from a central location to help ensure we continue to be
coordinated in our efforts."
Duke Energy also established a dedicated webpage,
duke-energy.com/HeleneRecovery, to provide the latest information
and resources for impacted customers in western North Carolina. The page currently includes a
map of the repair and rebuild zones, common questions and answers
and more.
Scam reminders
The company is also reminding
customers to be vigilant, stay informed and guard their personal
information, as scams and fraud are rampant after
storms.
Duke Energy will never threaten immediate disconnection, demand
payment information over the phone or ask customers to get a "Green
Dot" or prepaid credit card. For more information and helpful tips,
visit duke-energy.com/scam.
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 X, LinkedIn,
Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about
the people and innovations powering our energy transition.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy