Duke Energy making progress restoring power after Midwest storm

CINCINNATI and PLAINFIELD, Ind., June 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 9,800 Duke Energy customers in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio remain without power after overnight storms and fallen trees caused damage to transmission and distribution lines and equipment.

About 4,700 customers remain without power in Indiana, while 5,100 customers are without service in Ohio and Kentucky.  

"We appreciate our customers' patience while we continue our restoration efforts," said Howard Fowler, Duke Energy's storm director. "Our crews are committed to working as quickly and safely as possible to get all of our customers restored."

In Indiana, the hardest-hit areas include Clinton, Hamilton, Hancock, Howard, Rush, Union and Wayne counties. The same goes for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio. There were limited, scattered outages throughout Duke Energy's five-county electric service territory in northern Kentucky.

Crews working to restore powerBeginning at daybreak today, Duke Energy dispatched damage assessors to reported outage locations. As the damage assessors file their reports with Duke Energy's storm center, tree-trimmers, line crews and other personnel are sent to specific locations to clean up debris and restore power. Click here for an infographic that explains how Duke Energy restores power. A short YouTube video also illustrates our process.

Estimated restoration times availableNinety percent of customer outages will be restored by 11:45 p.m. The vast majority of remaining outages will be restored by 6 p.m. Friday, though most customers will be restored sooner.

In addition, there may be isolated, scattered outages remaining after 6 p.m. Friday depending on individual cases. For instance, about 1,500 customers in the vicinity of Russiaville, Ind., will have their service restored by 6 p.m. Saturday due to extensive damage to Duke Energy poles and equipment.

Customers can report outages and view projected restoration times by:

• Visiting Duke-Energy.com/storm via computer, tablet or smartphone
• Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800.343.3525 (Indiana) or 800.543.5599 (Kentucky and Ohio)

In addition, customers can sign up for free text message outage notifications by texting REG to 57801 or going to Duke-Energy.com/storm and clicking the "Outage Notifications" link. Standard text messaging rates apply.

More storms forecastedA cold front moving through the region may cause severe storms this afternoon and early evening in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana. This storm system may bring heavy wind gusts, hail and isolated tornadoes, and cause additional outages.  

If Duke Energy believes the potential storm will cause safety concerns, the company will instruct power restoration teams to stop working and take cover in a safe location. This may lead to extended estimated restoration times.

Safety firstSafety remains Duke Energy's top priority. The company reminds customers to stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all power lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything in contact with power lines. Please report downed power lines to Duke Energy.

If a power line falls across a car you're in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground. Click here for a brief video demonstration.

About Duke Energy Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 7,100 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 810,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky's operations provide electric service to about 840,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area and natural gas service to approximately 525,000 customers.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

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SOURCE Duke Energy