Duke Energy Florida completes restoration of approximately 800,000 Hurricane Helene power outages; remains committed to restoring the vitality of impacted communities

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy Florida has completed restoration efforts for all customers in Pinellas County's barrier islands capable of receiving power after Hurricane Helene, meeting and often exceeding estimated restoration times. The company has restored approximately 800,000 storm-related power outages across Florida. Duke Energy Florida is mobilizing customer care units to provide on-site assistance and will continue offering resources and support for the long recovery process.

The company reminds customers to be vigilant against scams and fraud, emphasizing that they will never threaten immediate disconnection or demand payment information over the phone. Duke Energy Florida is also closely monitoring Tropical Storm Milton, which is expected to strengthen, and crews are prepared to respond to any potential impacts.

Positive

• Completed restoration of approximately 800,000 storm-related power outages
• Met or exceeded estimated restoration times for Pinellas County's barrier islands
• Mobilizing customer care units to provide on-site assistance
• Prepared to respond to potential impacts from Tropical Storm Milton

Negative

• None.

• Company met, in many cases exceeded, estimated times of restoration for Pinellas County's barrier island customers
• As potential storm approaches, crews prepare to respond to any impacts  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Duke Energy Florida completed restoration efforts for all customers in Pinellas County's barrier islands who are capable of receiving power after Hurricane Helene – meeting, and in many cases exceeding, estimated times of restoration.

Through close collaboration with local municipalities, emergency operations centers and first responders, the company has now completed restoration of approximately 800,000 storm-related power outages across the state.

"I'm extremely grateful for our crews' dedication, our customers' patience and our communities' willingness to work together," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We know this is just the beginning of a long recovery process, and we will continue to offer resources and support to those who need it in the days, weeks and months ahead."

Duke Energy Florida has mobilized customer care units, where company representatives will be on-site to answer questions and provide account assistance. There will be a location open  Sunday, Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Madeira Beach City Hall (300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708).

As customers begin to repair and rebuild their homes and businesses, the company will be ready to respond, reconnect power and help restore the vitality of impacted communities. 

Customers who have damage to the electrical service that serves their homes or businesses should contact Duke Energy Florida. Those who currently cannot receive power due to 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.   

Additionally, the company reminds customers to be vigilant, stay informed and guard their personal information, as scams and fraud are rampant after storms. The company will never threaten immediate disconnection, demand payment information over the phone or ask customers to get a "Green Dot" or prepaid credit card. For more information and helpful tips, please click here. 

Customers who need assistance paying their utility bills can learn more about programs that may be available to help by visiting duke-energy.com/HereToHelp or calling 800.700.8744.

Tropical Storm Milton

Duke Energy Florida is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Milton, which is expected to strengthen in the coming days.

Crews are prepared to respond should we experience any impacts. We ask customers to remain vigilant as the storm approaches Florida's coast.

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. 

Contact: Ana Gibbs
24-Hour: 800.559.3853 

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

How many power outages did Duke Energy Florida (DUK) restore after Hurricane Helene?

Duke Energy Florida restored approximately 800,000 storm-related power outages across the state after Hurricane Helene.

What assistance is Duke Energy Florida (DUK) providing to customers affected by Hurricane Helene?

Duke Energy Florida is mobilizing customer care units to provide on-site assistance, answer questions, and offer account assistance to customers affected by Hurricane Helene.

Is Duke Energy Florida (DUK) prepared for Tropical Storm Milton?

Yes, Duke Energy Florida is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Milton and has crews prepared to respond should there be any impacts from the storm.

What should Duke Energy Florida (DUK) customers do if they have damage to their electrical service?

Customers with damage to their electrical service should contact Duke Energy Florida. Those who cannot receive power due to damage to their property's electrical components should contact local municipalities for guidance.