Duke Energy is preparing for the arrival of winter storm Fern in North Carolina and South Carolina this weekend. The company has assembled more than 18,000 workers from 27 states and Canada to respond to possible power outages caused by the storm.
Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, said: “The modeled forecasts continue to change and both the type and amount of precipitation may vary as the storm approaches.” He added, “We are making final preparations so that our 18,000 employees have everything they need to assess damage, remove fallen trees, and restore power as soon as conditions are safe.”
Canavan warned about the impact of freezing rain: “Freezing rain will be our enemy in the coming days. This rain turns into ice that accumulates on tree branches until, with the weight, they break off, fall onto power lines and poles, and break them. Freezing rain and ice will also make it extremely difficult for our crews to travel on roads, which will slow down restoration efforts.” He advised customers: “Winter storms like this can cause serious problems. I strongly recommend that customers prepare with their families for power outages that could last until next week, and ensure their neighbors are prepared as well.”
Meteorologists are monitoring Fern’s progress from the west. Snow, sleet or freezing rain could begin Saturday. Ice accumulation poses a significant risk; even a quarter inch can bring down branches onto power lines while half an inch or more can break the lines themselves.
Tree trimming crews are finishing selective pruning today to reduce outage risks before the storm arrives. More than 18,000 restoration workers will be positioned in North Carolina and South Carolina by Friday night. These include Duke Energy line workers—both company employees and contractors—as well as vegetation specialists and support staff from across 27 U.S. states and Canada.
Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electricity customers in North Carolina (3.8 million) and South Carolina (almost 860,000).
The company is tracking internal meteorological updates, positioning crews and materials where severe weather is expected, establishing 22 base camps across both states for out-of-state crews to gather supplies and rest between shifts, preparing damage assessors for deployment when conditions allow travel again, continuing targeted tree trimming near vulnerable lines, and coordinating closely with state and local emergency officials.
Customers are urged to review emergency plans—charging phones ahead of time, gathering flashlights with spare batteries—and consider downloading or updating both the American Red Cross emergency app (sponsored by Duke Energy Foundation) for checklists and shelter maps as well as Duke Energy’s own app through Apple Store or Google Play.
Customers should confirm their account login details via “My Account” or mobile app to verify contact information for outage alerts by text message, phone call or email. Outages can be reported online at duke-energy.com/OutageMap or via text (“OUT” to 57801) or phone (800.POWERON).
Safety reminders include staying away from downed wires or debris after storms; using generators safely per manufacturer instructions; understanding that recent grid improvements such as stronger poles, undergrounding cables where possible and self-healing technology may reduce some outages but cannot eliminate all risks during major ice events; repairs may take longer in rural areas due to road hazards; restoration will prioritize critical facilities once it is safe for crews.
For updates on current outages visit duke-energy.com/OutageMap; general storm tips are available at duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 energy holding company headquartered in Charlotte serving approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states including Florida—with a total owned generation capacity of over 55 gigawatts—and provides natural gas service to around 1.7 million customers in five states.
The company continues its transition toward cleaner energy sources while investing in grid upgrades aimed at reliability.
More information is available at duke-energy.com or through Duke Energy’s social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
