Duke Power is in the final stages of returning service to customers that remain without power from last week’s ice storm. The company is on track to complete all storm related outages by midnight Friday, Dec. 13.

“We know that more than a week without power creates a hardship, said E.O. Ferrell, senior vice president of electric distribution for Duke Power. “Many of our customers have demonstrated kindness and patience beyond anything we’ve ever seen. ”

“Today and the next 24 hours will be a challenge. We’re restoring individual homes at this point. We never know what we’re going to encounter, and trouble shooting one-by-one takes more time. We absolutely won’t rest until we have everyone’s lights back on,” said Ferrell.

Routine scattered outages, which occur on a daily basis due to factors such as traffic accidents or other causes, will continue to cause overall outage reporting numbers to fluctuate.

Outages in North Carolina include:

·         Charlotte, 11,500 outages

·         Burlington, 1,460 outages

·         Chapel Hill, 4,400 outages

·         Durham, 9,700 outages

·         Gastonia, 200 outages

·         Greensboro, 3,800 outages

·         High Point, 4,900 outages

·         Kannapolis, 100 outages

·         Salisbury, 1,900 outages

These numbers are as of 4:00 p.m. and do not reflect all of the work completed during the day. As crews return from the field and file their reports, numbers are updated. Our next news update, scheduled for 5:30 a.m. Friday, December 13, will include all the work done on Thursday.

In South Carolina, all storm-related outages were restored Wednesday.

Reminders:

·         If your power remains off when a neighbor’s power is back on, the company advises you to call 1-800-POWERON (1/800-769-3766).

·         The line offers options for Spanish speaking customers. (Si su casa sigue sin servicio eléctrico y sus vecinos ya tienen electricidad, favor de llamar al teléfono de Duke Power, 1-800-POWERON (1-800-943-6914). Nuestras operadoras pueden atenderle en español.)

REPORTERS CAN CALL OUR MEDIA OUTAGE LINE AT 704/382-8333.   OPTION 1 PROVIDES UPDATES. THIS OPTION WILL ALSO ALLOW REPORTERS TO REACH A REPRESENTATIVE FOR AN INTERVIEW.

Duke Power, a business unit of Duke Energy, is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities and provides safe, reliable, competitively priced electricity to approximately two million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. Duke Power operates three nuclear generating stations, eight coal-fired stations, 31 hydroelectric stations and numerous combustion turbine units. Total system generating capability is approximately 19,300 megawatts. More information about Duke Power is available on the Internet at: www.dukepower.com.

Duke Energy is a diversified multinational energy company with an integrated network of energy assets and expertise. The company manages a dynamic portfolio of natural gas and electric supply, delivery and trading businesses – meeting the energy needs of customers throughout North America and in key markets around the world. Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.