- Company has brought in small army of 730 to supplement
statewide workforce
- Customers can stay informed by texting REG to
57801
PLAINFIELD, Ind., June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has restored power
to more than 43,000 customers who were affected by the supercell
storm that ripped through Indiana
yesterday, causing more than 95,000 power outages. Approximately
52,000 remain out of service as of 11
a.m. today.
The storm initially caused outages from Wabash in the north to Clarksville in the south. Bloomington and Terre Haute are ground zero in terms of
damage, with about 85% of the outages in those areas due to the
high winds ranging between 55 and 70 miles per hour.
Crews have been making repairs while assessment remains underway
to determine the full scope of damage. Duke Energy will provide
power restoration time estimates as more information about damage
assessment becomes available. Extended outages are possible,
however, in the hardest-hit areas. Rough terrain, in particular in
Monroe County, is making
assessment and power restoration challenging.
"We have brought in more than 730 additional resources –
linemen, damage assessors and tree clearing workers – to supplement
our statewide workforce and speed power restoration," said Duke
Energy Indiana President Stan
Pinegar. "We're also moving crews from areas less affected
to those hardest hit. Our priority is always to restore service as
quickly and safely as possible, and we appreciate our customers'
patience while we respond."
The company is responding to broken poles, trees in power lines
and spans of wire down. "We also had damage on our electric
transmission system, which includes power lines and structures that
are our major carriers of power, but have made good progress on
restoring those major 'power highways,'" Pinegar said.
Power restoration process
During power restoration, the company's priority is to repair
large power lines and other infrastructure that will return power
to the greatest number of customers as safely, quickly and
efficiently as possible. Additionally, we also prioritize essential
services such as hospitals and water pumping and treatment
facilities. Crews then can work on repairs affecting individual
neighborhoods and homes. Click here for information on how Duke
Energy restores power.
How to report power outages
Customers who experience a power outage can report using any of
the following methods:
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile
device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy app on
your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may
apply).
- Call Duke Energy's automated outage reporting system at
800.343.3525.
Customers can receive text, phone or email alerts with power
outage updates. Learn how to sign up at outage alerts. Customers
can stay informed by texting REG to 57801.
Important safety tips
Duke Energy urges customers to avoid all downed power lines and
assume they are energized.
If a power line falls across a vehicle that you're in, stay in
the vehicle. If you MUST get out of the vehicle due to an immediate
life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the
vehicle and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is
touching the vehicle when your feet touch the ground.
More tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be
found at duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy
(NYSE: DUK), provides about 6,300
megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 900,000
customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it
Indiana's largest electric
supplier.
Contact: Angeline Protogere
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Twitter:
@DE_AngelineP
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SOURCE Duke Energy