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Duke Energy is reporting 3,134 active power outages and 115,666 customers as of 2 p.m. Sunday.
Original Story (1/15/21):
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy says the hazardous wintry mix from this weekend’s winter storm could cause an estimated 750,000 customers to lose power in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Based on the storm’s current forecast, Duke Energy says the power outages in some of the hardest-hit areas could last several days.
To prepare for this, Duke Energy has staged more than 10,000 workers across the Carolinas, including power line technicians, damage assessors, and vegetation workers.
Almost 4,100 of those workers are from other companies, with some based in Texas and Oklahoma.
All crews will be ready to begin power restoration as soon as weather conditions safely allow.
Duke Energy says ice-buildup on trees and branches that causes them to fall on power lines is usually the main culprit behind power outages during a winter storm.
Heavy, wet snow of six inches or more can also cause trees and branched to fall on power lines.
Duke Energy says its meteorologists continue to monitor weather conditions so that the company can plan accordingly.
Crews may have a hard time getting to the hard-hit areas to assess storm damage and begin power restoration, as travel conditions are predicted to be hazardous following the storm.
Click here for more on Duke Energy’s power restoration process.
