A winter storm named Fern has led to significant power outages across North and South Carolina, according to Duke Energy. As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, the utility reported that it had restored electricity to 24,864 customers in the region. However, 18,016 customers remained without power—14,802 in North Carolina and 3,214 in South Carolina.
The storm brought freezing rain and sleet that caused trees and branches to fall onto power lines. Duke Energy officials warned that additional outages could occur as low temperatures persist and ice continues to accumulate on trees and equipment.
Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, said: “The winter storm Fern continues to create dangerous conditions across the Carolinas, and we expect the number of outages to increase as ice continues bringing down trees and power lines.” He added: “Ice damage can continue long after the storm has passed. Even when skies clear, ice can make falling tree branches 30 times heavier and much more likely to break power lines and poles.”
Duke Energy crews are working throughout the region using self-healing technology to remotely reroute power around damaged equipment where possible. Some areas remain inaccessible due to hazardous road conditions; lineworkers, damage assessors, and tree crews will be deployed once it is safe.
Canavan noted: “We have teams positioned throughout the region; some are already restoring power while others remain on standby until conditions allow.” He continued: “Once it is safe, many of our workers will assess damage and restore power simultaneously—not sequentially—so customers will see additional progress as soon as crews can safely reach affected areas.”
The company serves about 4.7 million electricity customers in both states—3.8 million in North Carolina and nearly 860,000 in South Carolina.
Duke Energy’s response force for this event includes more than 18,000 lineworkers, vegetation specialists, damage assessors, and storm support staff. The restoration process follows a staged approach designed for safety: major transmission lines are repaired first before crews move on to substations and primary distribution lines serving neighborhoods or individual sites. Critical infrastructure such as emergency facilities receives priority throughout the process.
Customers are urged to stay away from downed or sagging power lines at all times and use generators safely according to manufacturer instructions. The absence of utility trucks in a neighborhood does not necessarily mean no work is being done; repairs may be underway at substations or other upstream locations required before local service can resume.
Duke Energy is prepared to deploy helicopters, drones, track vehicles, and trucks with chained tires for assessments and repairs as needed. Additional out-of-state crews may arrive by Tuesday if further support is required.
For those who still have electricity but face colder-than-normal temperatures over the coming week—which could lead to higher energy usage—the company recommends several cost-saving steps:
– Set thermostats as low as comfortably possible.
– Keep air filters clean.
– Open blinds during sunny days for natural heating; close them at night.
– Run ceiling fans clockwise in winter months to circulate warm air downward.
More updates will be provided by Duke Energy as restoration efforts continue.
