Inside the Storm Command Center

We’ve all seen it: TV forecasters tracking storms, giving daily weather reports and offering insight on all things Mother Nature. While broadcast meteorology is an important outlet for public safety, the profession extends well beyond the airwaves to a range of industries – including energy utilities. 

At Duke Energy, meteorologists like Colleen Peterson are at the heart of critical decision-making: predicting how weather could impact supply (power generation) and demand (power distribution), ensuring customers have electricity when and where they need it.

Colleen Peterson earned a meteorology degree from Florida State University.

Their detailed forecasts and recommendations are applied across Duke Energy service areas, helping determine which power plants should operate and when, the timing and impact of adverse weather conditions, where to move people and equipment in advance of storms and so much more.

The goal: to equip Duke Energy team members and contract workers with the necessary information to maintain the reliability of the energy delivery system and ensure the safety of Duke Energy employees, customers and communities.

Peterson, who previously worked for TV stations in Alabama and Kentucky and an energy trading firm, was drawn to Duke Energy in 2024 because of the tangible impact of meteorology on the company and employees.

“I wanted to make more of a statement in my career,” she said. “Here, I’m able to use technical forecasting to support transmission, distribution, power trading – so many different areas that impact the company.”

One thing she’s learned: how deeply their work shapes company operations. Each day brings a new challenge.

“We can’t wait until two days before a storm hits to make a plan. Our expertise helps transmission and distribution teams position crews and resources ahead of time so customers can get their power back as safely and soon as possible.” 

Peterson's previous meteorology experience includes stops at an energy trading firm and TV stations in Alabama and Kentucky.

Beyond storm tracking, Duke Energy meteorologists play a crucial role in load forecasting – predicting how much electricity customers will use at any given time. 

Weather is a primary driver of electricity demand: hotter summer temperatures lead to an increase in air-conditioner usage, while colder winter temperatures result in increased space heating. Something as trivial as a 1-degree swing in outdoor temperature will often lead to changes in customers’ electricity consumption.

“Our forecasts help power traders make better decisions,” Peterson said. “If we expect temperatures to overperform, that could mean a 300- to 400-megawatt increase in demand. That’s where we add value – catching those shifts ahead of time so the grid is prepared.” 

A prime example of this occurred in January when most Duke Energy customers experienced colder-than-normal weather and, in the Carolinas, set a record for electricity use. In the weeks leading up to the cold snap, meteorologists worked side by side with unit commitment managers, power traders and natural gas traders to ensure they had the information they needed to do their jobs and ensure the company would be able to meet the historic demand for electricity.

This real-time decision-making happens daily at Duke Energy Plaza in Uptown Charlotte, N.C. “It’s fast-paced and our forecasts are constantly being judged,” she said. “You need thick skin, but that pushes us to be as accurate as possible.” 

Peterson credits Steve Leyton, manager of meteorology, and Max Thompson, lead meteorologist, for getting her up to speed since joining the company in 2024.

When major storms approach Duke Energy’s service areas, the meteorology team goes into what Peterson calls “storm mode,” a nonstop, around-the-clock operation. This includes continuously monitoring conditions and updating the timing and potential impacts of the weather event.

Meteorology keeps an open line of communication with key groups like Emergency Preparedness, Power Grid Operations and Customer Services Operations, and assists with projecting the number of outage events or impacted customers. The company uses these projections to establish flexible resource plans for restoring service once conditions are safe.

“Our forecasts help ensure crews are in the right place to respond quickly,” Peterson said. “It’s exhausting but knowing we’re helping communities recover faster makes it worth it.”

With extreme weather events becoming more common, forecasting has never been more critical.

“Hurricanes are stronger, storms are more volatile and seasonal patterns are shifting,” Peterson said. “Sometimes, weather models don’t fully account for climate change, and that’s where our team steps in – recognizing trends and adjusting forecasts accordingly.”

Rising energy demand across Duke Energy-served communities could add another layer of complexity, she said of the company’s plans to expand renewables as part of an “all of the above” strategy to meet growth reliably.

Duke Energy meteorologists work side-by-side with unit commitment managers, power traders and gas traders at Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, N.C.

“Solar power is variable. A sudden increase in cloud cover can reduce solar generation, affecting overall grid stability. We’re using programming and machine learning to improve solar forecasting so the company can better integrate renewables.” 

For Peterson, the most rewarding part of her job is knowing her work directly affects people’s lives.

“From keeping the lights on during heat waves to ensuring faster storm recovery, our forecasts impact customers,” she said. “It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.” 

After all, in the world of energy, weather isn’t just something to talk about. It’s something to plan for.