Duke Energy sharpens storm preparedness and response
Duke Energy continues to upgrade its grid and technology so communities can better withstand natural disasters. This year, with hurricane season upon us, those investments have been put to the test—and proven—most clearly during Hurricane Debby.
Year-round upgrades and smarter tools
All year long, Duke Energy invests in strengthening its grid. These improvements help limit outages when severe weather hits, delivering stronger reliability for customers in Florida. Melissa Seixas, state president of Duke Energy Florida, underscored the company’s readiness: “Regardless of when and where the next storm strikes, we are committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of our services. It is essential for our customers to communicate and reevaluate their emergency plans with loved ones and coworkers,” she said.
What Hurricane Debby showed
During Hurricane Debby, which made landfall recently, Duke Energy’s self-healing technology made a measurable difference. It saved 12.5 million minutes of customer outage time and automatically restored power to more than 62,000 customers. While this system can’t fix physical damage on its own, it can reduce the customer impact from outages by up to 75%. Today, more than 76% of the company’s Florida customers benefit from this responsive technology.
Faster restoration, fewer disruptions
Backed by these tools, Duke Energy achieved a record restoration time after the storm: 93% of customers had power back within 24 hours. The company is also hardening the grid for the next event—upgrading thousands of poles and wires, managing vegetation, and placing outage-prone lines underground to improve service when severe weather strikes.
Investing now for future resilience
Preparedness isn’t just about the next storm. Duke Energy has optimized 12 substations and has about 50 additional projects underway. The company is also expanding capacity by building new substations and enlarging existing facilities to meet Florida’s growing demand.
Customer-first during construction
Seixas recognizes that upgrades can be inconvenient: “We deeply appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as we perform these essential upgrades that are vital for the safety of your homes and businesses.” Balancing complex infrastructure work with day-to-day customer needs remains a core principle for Duke Energy.
Working with the community
Experience matters, and so do partnerships. Duke Energy credits its faster response to years of storm work and close coordination with local first responders, emergency management agencies, and other organizations. These relationships help the company act quickly and in step with community partners during severe weather.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy Florida, a key division of Duke Energy, operates 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity and delivers reliable electricity to nearly two million customers across a wide service area. The parent company, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), is one of America’s largest energy holding companies, serving 8.4 million customers across multiple states with a long-term commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Investing in clean energy and aiming for net-zero emissions reflects Duke Energy’s vision. By strengthening infrastructure and expanding cleaner, more sustainable resources, the company is working toward an energy future that’s both reliable and affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What technology helps Duke Energy prepare for storms?
Duke Energy uses advanced self-healing technology that can automatically restore power during outages, improving reliability and reducing the overall impact on customers.
How did the company perform during Hurricane Debby?
During Hurricane Debby, 93% of customers had power restored within 24 hours. The self-healing system saved 12.5 million minutes of outage time and automatically restored service to more than 62,000 customers.
What investments are being made to improve safety and reliability?
Duke Energy is undergrounding outage-prone lines, upgrading poles and wires, managing vegetation, optimizing substations, and adding new substations to increase grid capacity.
How does Duke Energy work with local agencies during emergencies?
The company collaborates closely with first responders, emergency management agencies, and other organizations to coordinate communication and speed response during severe weather.
What is Duke Energy’s sustainability goal?
Duke Energy is transitioning to cleaner energy solutions and is working toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and net-zero methane emissions by 2030.
