Duke Energy announced on March 15 that it is preparing for strong winds and the possibility of tornado activity across the Carolinas on Monday, which could lead to downed trees and power lines.
The company said these weather conditions may cause power outages, emphasizing the importance of customer preparedness. Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, said, “Las fuertes ráfagas de viento pueden derribar árboles y líneas de electricidad y provocar cortes de suministro, y nuestros equipos de líneas y árboles trabajarán lo más rápido y seguro posible para restablecer el servicio a medida que se produzcan los cortes.” He also advised customers to stay alert: “Estamos siguiendo de cerca las condiciones meteorológicas y animamos a los clientes a que se preparen ahora, estén atentos a la evolución del clima y eviten siempre los cables eléctricos caídos.”
Duke Energy recommends that customers create an emergency plan and kit by charging phones, gathering flashlights and spare batteries, and reviewing other essential measures. The company encourages downloading or updating its mobile app from Apple Store or Google Play for outage updates. Customers are also urged to confirm their account access information through “My Account” or the mobile app and subscribe to outage alerts via text message, phone call, or email. Outages can be reported online, through the app, by texting “OUT” to 57801, or by calling 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
Safety remains a priority during severe weather events. Duke Energy advises staying away from downed power lines and storm debris and using generators safely. The company has modernized its infrastructure by upgrading poles and wires, burying outage-prone lines underground, and implementing smart technology that can automatically reroute power to help reduce outages and speed up restoration times. However, extended outages are still possible during severe weather.
Restoration efforts may be delayed in some areas due to blocked roads or hazardous travel conditions. For safety reasons, crews do not perform elevated work in bucket trucks when winds reach 30 mph or higher.
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric holding companies in the United States with headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. It provides electricity to about 8.6 million customers across six states and natural gas service to 1.7 million customers in five states. The company continues its transition toward cleaner energy while investing in grid improvements.
More information is available at duke-energy.com as well as on social media platforms including X (@DukeEnergy), Facebook (facebook.com/DukeEnergy), Instagram (instagram.com/Duke_Energy), along with current outage maps at duke-energy.com/OutageMap.
