Duke Energy Florida begins power restoration; nearly 350,000 outages restored since Hurricane Milton's landfall

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Duke Energy Florida has begun power restoration efforts following Hurricane Milton's landfall. As of 9 a.m. ET, nearly 350,000 outages have been restored, with over 850,000 still existing. The company will issue estimated times of restoration for all affected customers later in the afternoon.

Duke Energy Florida has 16,000 resources supporting power restoration, with crews staged at various base camps in the hardest-hit areas. The company offers safety tips for generator use and provides multiple ways for customers to report power outages, including through their website, mobile app, text message, or phone.

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, supplies electricity to 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. The parent company, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, aiming for net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050.

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• The company will issue estimated times of restoration for all customers impacted by the storm this afternoon

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While damage assessment is ongoing, Duke Energy Florida is now beginning power restoration in many areas impacted by Hurricane Milton and will issue estimated times of restoration for all customers later this afternoon. As of 9 a.m. ET, nearly 350,000 outages have been restored, and over 850,000 outages still exist throughout the company's service territory.

"From downed trees and branches falling on our power lines to storm surge flooding our equipment – which causes almost immediate corrosion – our infrastructure was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton. We're making repairs where we can, but we anticipate we will need to rebuild in many areas," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. "Despite that, our crews are doing all they can, even working through the night, to get the lights back on for as many customers as possible as quickly as possible."

Duke Energy Florida has 16,000 resources supporting power restoration. Crews are staged at base camps in areas hardest hit by the storm:

• Bexley Properties (Land O' Lakes)
• Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport
• Manheim Orlando (Winter Garden)
• Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers
• Sebring Raceway
• Seminole Towne Center
• Tropicana Field
• The Villages

For customers who are using a generator, Duke Energy Florida offers the following safety tips:

• Only operate a generator outside and connect appliances directly to it.
• Do not wire your generator directly to your breaker fuse box, as it could backfeed on power lines.
• Please watch for utility crews and turn the generator off when crews are in your area. The electrical load on the power lines can be hazardous for those making repairs.
• Have a fully charged, properly rated fire extinguisher (i.e., rated for electrical and gas fires) ready at all times.

Customers can report power outages four different ways:

• Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile device.
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
• Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply).
• Call the automated outage reporting system at 800.228.8485.

Additionally, customers who cannot receive power as a result of damage to the property's meter base, breaker panel or customer-owned electrical wiring should contact their local municipalities for guidance. Inspections may be required after repairs are complete.   

The most up-to-date information about power outages can be accessed on Duke Energy's Outage Map or by enrolling in Outage Alerts.

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.  

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.  

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Editor's note: Visit the Duke Energy News Center for downloadable B-roll and high-resolution images.

Contact: Ana Gibbs
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 

 

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

How many outages has Duke Energy Florida restored since Hurricane Milton's landfall?

Duke Energy Florida has restored nearly 350,000 outages since Hurricane Milton's landfall, as reported in the press release.

What resources does Duke Energy Florida have for power restoration after Hurricane Milton?

Duke Energy Florida has 16,000 resources supporting power restoration efforts following Hurricane Milton, with crews staged at various base camps in the hardest-hit areas.

How can customers report power outages to Duke Energy Florida?

Customers can report power outages to Duke Energy Florida through four methods: visiting duke-energy.com, using the Duke Energy mobile app, texting OUT to 57801, or calling the automated outage reporting system at 800.228.8485.

What are Duke Energy's (DUK) clean energy goals mentioned in the press release?

Duke Energy (DUK) aims to achieve net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050, as part of its ambitious clean energy transition.

How many customers does Duke Energy Florida serve?

Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.