PLAINFIELD, Ind., Jan. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Like many Midwesterners, Duke Energy continues to monitor and prepare for a winter storm that has the potential to cause power outages across the company's 69-county Indiana service area.
Related: B-roll video of storm prep and winter storm power restoration efforts
"This storm will be different compared to the system that blanketed the Midwest with snow last weekend," said Duke Energy Meteorologist Curt Grimoskas. "This one is distinctive because it has the potential to bring a combination of snow, sleet, rain, freezing rain, very gusty winds and cold temperatures."
Related: High-resolution photos of winter storm power restoration work
Snow on its own typically has little to no impact on the electric system. However, heavy wet snow accumulation, freezing rain and high winds can bring down trees, limbs and power lines. These types of winter storms can also create hazardous driving conditions, which could delay and impede Duke Energy workers' abilities to assess storm damage and restore power.
Duke Energy workers preparing for and tracking storm
Ahead of this weekend's storm, Duke Energy line technicians and other workers continue to inspect equipment, check supplies and restock inventories to ensure adequate materials are available to make repairs and restore power outages. In addition, Duke Energy meteorologists are continually tracking the storm's path and intensity, and updating forecast models, which influence how the company mobilizes its workers and other resources.
Related: How Duke Energy restores power following a storm
Duke Energy has more than 500 line technicians, service crews and other storm personnel available across the company's Indiana service region to respond to power outages once conditions are safe. Depending on the impact of the storm, Duke Energy can bring in additional workers from its Southeast utilities and/or activate mutual aid agreements to enlist help from other utilities across the U.S.
Safety reminders
Ahead of this winter storm, Duke Energy urges customers to make plans to move family members ? especially those with special needs ? to safe, alternative locations in the event of an extended power outage. The company also advises customers to be prepared and stay safe, and to encourage their family members, friends and neighbors to do the same.
"We can't stress enough the need for customers to be prepared for this storm and to be ready to move family members and neighbors ? especially those who may be more vulnerable during a loss of power ? to safe, alternative locations," said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy Indiana state president.
Here are ways customers can be prepared and stay safe before, during and after a storm:
Reporting outages
Customers who experience outages during the storm have multiple ways to report them:
Duke Energy will also provide updates on its social media channels to keep customers informed if significant outages occur:
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana's operations provide about 6,700 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 820,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state's largest electric supplier.
Duke Energy Indiana is a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK).
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.
The company's Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states ? North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states ? North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S.
A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Contact: Lew Middleton | 317.838.1505 office
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
SOURCE Duke Energy
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