Duke Energy Makes Strong Progress in Storm Repairs March 3, 2009

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -

Duke Energy continues to make strong progress in repair efforts in the wake of this March winter storm. Power has been restored to almost 75 percent of the 185,000 customers impacted by the severe weather.

Approximately 4,700 field personnel, including 1,150 workers from our Midwest service area and other utilities, continue to work around the clock to make storm repairs. Updated power restoration estimates are below:

The storm caused extensive damage to the power delivery system including breaking utility poles, downing spans of power lines and damaging equipment.

Now that the largest repairs to the backbone of the power delivery system are complete, field personnel are moving into neighborhoods, streets, homes and businesses to restore power there. Progress during this phase of the restoration effort will be slower because of the individualized nature of each repair project.

Customers can call the company’s automated reporting system – 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766), Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-866-4APAGON (1-866-427-2466) – to receive up to date restoration estimates for their home.

Home Generator Safety

A generator can be very useful during a power outage, but remember to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure safe and proper operation. To protect yourself and your family, follow these rules:

• Have a licensed electrician install stationary or stand-by emergency generators.
• Plug appliances directly into an emergency or portable generator. This is the safest way to use a generator. We don’t recommend connection of a generator directly to a breaker panel, fuse box or meter box.
• Keep children away from generators.
• Have a fully charged fire extinguisher – properly rated for electrical and gasoline fires – ready at all times.
• Never connect generators to your utility service through receptacles, outlets, breakers, fuses or meter boxes.
• Never replenish fuel in a generator while it is running.
• Call an electrician to repair a generator; never attempt to repair it yourself.

Safety Around Power Lines:

• Stay away from downed or sagging power lines, and do not touch anything that is on or near a power line (i.e., trees or tree limbs, cars, ladders).
• Keep children and family pets away from areas where lines may have fallen (backyards, fields, school yards, etc.).

Report all power line hazards to Duke Power or your local emergency services department or agency.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S. customers and natural gas service to approximately 520,000 customers in its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 net megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 net megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company.

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