{"id":380164,"date":"2020-11-12T15:58:08","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T20:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/?p=380164"},"modified":"2020-11-12T15:58:08","modified_gmt":"2020-11-12T20:58:08","slug":"duke-energy-crews-restore-power-assess-damage-following-fast-moving-tropical-storm-eta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketnewsdesk.com\/index.php\/duke-energy-crews-restore-power-assess-damage-following-fast-moving-tropical-storm-eta\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke Energy crews restore power, assess damage following fast-moving Tropical Storm Eta"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PR Newswire<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.<\/span>, Nov. 12, 2020<\/span> \/PRNewswire\/ — As Tropical Storm Eta moves offshore over the Atlantic waters, Duke Energy crews are assessing storm damage and restoring power where conditions allow. <\/p>\n

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Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge have resulted in outages in several areas. The storm has brought downed trees and power lines, broken poles and other weather-related outages.<\/p>\n

More than 2,800 repair workers will be involved with restoration efforts. Duke Energy crews from Ohio<\/span>, Kentucky<\/span>, Indiana<\/span> and the Carolinas have traveled to the state to assist. This also includes supplemental repair crews from other electric utility companies through the Southeastern Electric Exchange. <\/p>\n

As of 3 p.m.<\/span>, approximately 10,000 customers are without power. During this event, 110,000 outages have been restored. We expect to have 95% of customers restored before midnight tonight. Those in the hardest-hit areas may extend into Friday. <\/p>\n

More specific restoration times will be provided later today for customers still without power. In some of the hardest-hit areas, the estimated time will indicate when we expect to have all service restored to that community. Please know that many customers will be back on before then. Duke Energy will provide estimated power restoration times for specific counties and communities as those estimates have been determined \u2013 at duke-energy.com\/outages\/current-outages<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition to making repairs, Duke Energy crews are surveying the extent of damage to utility poles and power lines. Damage assessment is an important part of the power restoration process as it helps determine where the company will deploy its workers, equipment and other resources.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

“I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as our crews work to safely restore power as quickly as possible, while also adhering to COVID-related safe work practices,” said Jason Cutliffe<\/span>, Duke Energy’s Florida<\/span> incident commander. “We know this is a particularly difficult time for our customers to lose power, as many are working from home and attending school remotely due to the pandemic.”<\/p>\n

\n Workers will adhere to CDC recommendations for COVID safe work <\/b>\n <\/p>\n

During non-pandemic times, restoring power after a storm can be difficult for utility repair crews as travel and work conditions can be affected by high winds, fallen trees and flooding.<\/p>\n

Now, in addition to addressing those standard challenges, Duke Energy’s detailed storm response plan has incorporated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommendations for COVID safe work practices and physical distancing measures to help keep customers and communities safe.<\/p>\n

Duke Energy requests that customers remain outside of marked work zones and refrain from approaching repair crews.<\/p>\n

\n Outage alerts and reporting power outages <\/b>\n <\/p>\n

Customers can sign up to receive\u00a0outage alerts<\/a>\u00a0and ensure contact information is current and communication preferences specified.<\/p>\n

Customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways:<\/p>\n