Duke Energy is preparing for a winter storm expected to bring snow, strong winds, and cold temperatures to the Carolinas this weekend. The company has urged customers to take precautions as weather conditions are likely to worsen.
According to Duke Energy, wind gusts present the greatest threat to the power grid, especially in areas where trees may have been weakened by a recent ice storm. High winds and heavy snowfall could lead to whiteout conditions, making travel dangerous and increasing the risk of vehicle accidents involving utility equipment. Snow accumulation may also hinder road access for repair crews, potentially slowing efforts to restore power.
“For safety, crews cannot perform elevated work in bucket trucks when winds reach 30 mph or higher, which may slow restoration in some areas,” the company stated.
Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, said: “We’re monitoring conditions closely and will dispatch crews as soon as it’s safe.” He added: “Dry, powdery snow is less likely to affect power equipment, but strong wind gusts can still bring down trees and cause outages.” Canavan encouraged customers “to prepare now and avoid driving until conditions improve.”
Duke Energy recommends that customers make emergency plans by charging phones, gathering flashlights with extra batteries, and reviewing other critical steps. Customers are advised to download or update the Duke Energy app from the Apple Store or Google Play for outage information and updates. Logging into My Account or the mobile app allows users to review contact details and communication preferences. Customers can sign up for outage alerts via text, phone or email.
To report an outage, customers can submit reports online through the company’s website or mobile app, text OUT to 57801, or call 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
The company stressed safety measures such as staying away from downed power lines and debris and using generators properly. While improvements like upgraded poles and wires—along with smart technology that reroutes power automatically—have helped reduce outages and speed up restoration times in recent years (https://www.duke-energy.com/OutageMap), severe weather can still result in extended outages.
Crews will assess damage and begin restoring service once it is safe; however, blocked roads or hazardous travel could delay restoration efforts in some locations.
More information about current outages is available at https://www.duke-energy.com/OutageMap. Storm preparation tips can be found at https://www.duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across several states including North Carolina and South Carolina. The company continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources as part of its transition toward a more reliable energy future.
Updates on storm response will be provided through Duke Energy’s social media channels on X (@DukeEnergy), Facebook (facebook.com/DukeEnergy), Instagram (instagram.com/Duke_Energy), as well as their website.
