Duke Energy announced on March 15 that it is preparing for strong winds and the possibility of tornado activity expected throughout Monday in the Carolinas, which could lead to downed trees and power lines.
The company said these weather conditions may cause power outages, and crews are ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible. Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, said, “Strong wind gusts can bring down trees and power lines and cause outages, and our line and tree crews will work as quickly and safely as possible to restore service as outages occur.” He added, “We are closely monitoring weather conditions and encourage customers to prepare now, stay alert to changing weather, and always avoid downed power lines.”
Duke Energy advised customers to make an emergency plan by charging phones, gathering flashlights with spare batteries, and reviewing other essential preparations. The company also recommended downloading or updating its mobile app from Apple Store or Google Play for outage updates. Customers should confirm their account access information through ‘My Account’ or the mobile app to ensure contact details are current. Duke Energy encouraged signing up for outage alerts via text message, phone call, or email.
Customers were reminded of safety precautions such as staying away from downed power lines or storm debris and using generators safely. The company noted that recent upgrades—including modernized poles and wires, undergrounding vulnerable lines, and adding smart technology—can help reduce outages and speed up restoration. However, extended outages remain possible during severe weather events. 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 miles per hour or higher.
Duke Energy provides electricity to about 8.6 million customers across several states including North Carolina and South Carolina. The company is investing in grid improvements and cleaner energy sources while maintaining reliability for its customers.
More information is available at duke-energy.com.
