Duke Energy reported that more than 18,000 customers in North and South Carolina were without power as of Sunday afternoon due to Winter Storm Fern. The storm brought freezing rain and sleet, which caused trees, branches, and power lines to fall across the region.
The company stated that cold temperatures could continue to cause ice-laden branches and power lines to fall even after precipitation ends. This means additional outages are possible in the coming days. Duke Energy has restored electricity to 24,864 customers by 4 p.m. on Sunday, January 25.
Line workers are continuing damage assessments and restoring service where conditions allow. The company has also used self-healing technology to remotely reroute power around damaged equipment. In areas where road conditions remain hazardous, Duke Energy will deploy line workers, damage assessors, and tree crews as soon as it is safe for them to reach affected infrastructure.
At 4 p.m., there were still 18,016 customers without electricity—14,802 in North Carolina and 3,214 in South Carolina. Weather forecasts indicate that the number of outages may rise through Sunday night. Duke Energy said some outages could last several days and will provide estimated restoration times once damage assessments are complete.
Rick Canavan, storm director at Duke Energy, said: “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 persist long after the storm has passed. Even when skies clear up, ice can make falling tree limbs thirty times heavier and much more likely to break electric lines and poles.” Canavan continued: “We have teams positioned throughout the region; some are already restoring service while others remain on standby until conditions permit.” He also noted: “Once it’s safe, many of our workers will assess damages and restore service simultaneously—not sequentially—so customers will see further progress as soon as crews can safely access affected areas.”
Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electricity customers in North Carolina (3.8 million) and South Carolina (almost 860,000).
The workforce mobilized for this event includes over 18,000 line workers, vegetation specialists, damage assessors, and storm support staff. Restoration follows a staged approach prioritizing safety for personnel and communities while focusing first on major transmission lines before moving on to smaller neighborhood circuits.
The company emphasized that lack of utility trucks in a neighborhood does not mean no work is being done; crews may be repairing upstream facilities like substations or main transmission lines necessary before local service can be restored.
Duke Energy is prepared to use helicopters, drones, tracked vehicles, or chained-tire trucks for repairs if needed. Additional out-of-state crews may arrive Tuesday if required.
Customers with electricity are encouraged to save energy during the ongoing cold weather by lowering thermostats where comfortable; ensuring air filters are clean; using sunlight during the day for natural heating; closing blinds at night; and running ceiling fans clockwise in winter months—all measures that can help reduce energy usage during periods of high demand.
The company reminded residents always to stay away from downed or sagging power lines and use generators according to manufacturer instructions for safety reasons.
