Latest news with #DukeEnergy
Indianapolis Star
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Indianapolis Star
AES repair time estimates leave some without power as heat wave moves into Indy
More than 14,000 Hoosiers are without power just ahead of a days-long heat wave, according to a outage maps from AES and Duke Energy. Powerful storms that came through central Indiana on June 18 knocked out electricity for more than 67,000 AES customers and 69,000 Duke Energy customers. Most, but not all, have since had their service restored. As of about 8:30 a.m. on June 20, Duke reported 4,235 customers without power throughout the state. AES had 10,279 without power. "Due to the extent of the damage to our service territory, and based on our assessment, we anticipate most remaining customers to be restored by midday Sunday," a statement from AES read in part. An extreme heat wave will be in its second day at that point, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. Heat indices could spike into the triple digits on June 22 and June 23 as both the temperature and humidity levels climb to their highest levels so far this year. "We know being without power in this heat is difficult ... our crews continue working around the clock to restore service," an AES spokesperson said. The "vast majority" of Duke's power outages in Avon, Plainfield, Greencastle and New Castle are expected to be restored by noon on June 20, according to a news release. Bedford, Bloomington, Noblesville and Terre Haute are expected back online by 6 p.m., and Columbus by midnight on June 21. "I think we're on track to meet those ETAs," said Duke spokesperson McKenzie Barbknecht. High temperatures can be extremely dangerous, especially for young children and the elderly. Indy Parks family centers and public libraries will be open to those seeking respite from the heat. The following Indy Parks facilities will be open as cooling centers this weekend. Their hours of operation can be found at Public libraries will also be an option for people seeking cool air. The Indianapolis Public Library has branches at the following locations. Their hours can be found online at The three main heat-related illnesses to look out for are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If any of the following symptoms are evident on you or another person: move to a cooler area, loosen clothing and sip cool water. Seek a medical professional if any of the symptoms don't improve within an hour. Heat cramps may be the first sign of illness that could lead to more serious symptoms. Cramps show up as painful muscle cramps or spasms along with heavy sweating, according to NWS. Use firm pressure on the cramping muscles and massage them gently. Heat exhaustion will show up as heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness with cool and clammy skin. The person's pulse may be quick but weak and they may exhibit dizziness or nausea. Immediately move the person to an air-conditioned room, loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloth to the skin. Heat stroke needs immediate medical attention, so call 9-1-1 or get the patient to a hospital. Heat stroke can appear as throbbing headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperatures above 103 degrees. The patient's skin can also appear red with a lack of sweat. This is a serious illness and delays in medical care can be fatal.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Duke Energy Plans Rate Increase
This article was first published on Rigzone here Duke Energy Corporation's Duke Energy Progress has requested a public review of the company's rates as it intends to lift prices. The company, serving 177,000 customers primarily in central and northeastern South Carolina, said an increase is justified due to increased work on system diversity and reliability. In its request to South Carolina's Public Service Commission, the company is seeking an overall revenue increase of $74.8 million, representing a 12.1 percent increase over current revenues. It said in a media release this is the first rate review it requested since 2022. 'We know families and businesses are juggling a lot and we do not take a request to increase rates lightly, but being upfront and timely with our request is the right thing to do and in the best interest of our customers', Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina president, said. If approved, the monthly electricity bills for typical residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month would rise by $21.66 a month - from $144.85 per month to $166.51 - starting February 1, 2026. Commercial customers would see an average increase of 12.8 percent, while industrial customers would see an average increase of around 3.6 percent. The exact amount of increase per customer class may vary depending on how much additional revenue is needed to ensure the class covers the cost of serving them, the company said. Take control of your THOUSANDS of Oil & Gas jobs on Search Now >> 'This proposal reflects the investments we have made to strengthen the grid, improve storm readiness, maintain and enhance our generating fleet, and serve a growing customer base,' the company said. It said that previous investments in grid resilience proved critical when Hurricane Helene made its way across the Carolinas. 'Smart, self-healing technology installed across the Duke Energy Progress service territory helped to automatically restore more than 10,000 customer outages and saved more than 28,000 hours of total outage time, showing the value of the self-healing programs', the company said. To contact the author, email More From The Leading Energy Platform: Inpex Granted Production Concession for UAE Block Equinor Offered Another CO2 Exploration License in Norwegian North Sea ConocoPhillips Confirms Slagugle Oil Discovery in Norwegian Sea Lakes Blue Energy Secures Funding for Wombat-5 Drilling >> Find the latest oil and gas jobs on << Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Duke says it has restored power to 73,000 Indiana customers
Duke Energy on Thursday said it had restored power to more than 73,000 customers affected by Wednesday's severe thunderstorms. Duke said the storms caused more than 100,000 power outages across nearly all of the 28 districts the company serves. In a 6 a.m. Thursday news release, the utility said crews were still working to restore approximately 31,000 customers across the state. A company outage map available online about 2:30 p.m. Thursday showed about 4,000 customers without power in west central Indiana, with apparently about 1,600 of those in and around Vigo County. Wind gusts reached as high as 70 miles per hour in some areas Wednesday afternoon, taking down trees, power lines and poles. Duke said it brought in more than 500 additional crew members to supplement its statewide workforce and respond to the hardest hit areas, including Bartholomew, Hamilton, Monroe, Union and Vigo counties. Estimated restoration times – once determined for specific areas – will be posted at and customers who are registered to receive Duke Energy text outage alerts will receive a text once an estimated restoration time is established for that location. 'I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as our crews work quickly and safely to restore power,' said Clint Carnahan, general manager of emergency preparedness at Duke Energy. The company said that during power restoration, its priority is to repair large power lines and other infrastructure that will return power to the greatest number of customers as safely, quickly and efficiently as possible. Additionally, it prioritizes essential services such as hospitals and water pumping and treatment facilities. Crews then can work on repairs affecting individual neighborhoods and homes. Duke Energy customers who experience a power outage can report it the following ways: • Visit on a desktop computer or mobile device. • Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy app on your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play). • Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data charges may apply). • Call Duke Energy's automated outage reporting system at 1.800.343.3525. More tips on what to do before, during and after a storm can be found at
a day ago
- Politics
North Carolina lawmakers finalize bill that would scrap 2030 carbon reduction goal
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina legislators finalized a bill Thursday that would eliminate an interim greenhouse gas reduction mandate set in a landmark 2021 law, while still directing regulators to aim to cancel out power plant carbon emissions in the state within the next 25 years. With some bipartisan support, the state Senate voted to accept the House version that would repeal the 2021 law's requirement that electric regulators take 'all reasonable steps to achieve' reducing carbon dioxide output 70% from 2005 levels by 2030. The law's directive to take similar steps to meet a carbon neutrality standard by 2050 would remain in place. The bill's Republican supporters pushing the new measure say getting rid of the interim goal benefits ratepayers asked to pay for future electric-production construction and is more efficient for Duke Energy, the state's dominant electric utility. The bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who can veto the measure, sign it or let it become law without his signature. Stein previously expressed concerns about the Senate version of the measure, worried that it could hurt electricity users and threaten the state's clean-energy economy. His office didn't immediately provide comment after Thursday's vote. With over a dozen House and Senate Democrats voting for the final version, the chances that any Stein veto could be overridden are higher. Republicans in charge of the General Assembly are only one House seat shy of a veto-proof majority. The bill also contains language that would help Duke Energy seek higher electric rates to cover financing costs to build nuclear or gas-powered plants incrementally, rather than wait until the project's end. The 2021 greenhouse gas law marked a rare agreement on environmental issues by then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican lawmakers. At least 17 other states — most controlled by Democrats — have laws setting similar net-zero power plant emissions or 100% renewable energy targets, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. North Carolina and Virginia are the only ones from the Southeast. The legislation came about as President Donald Trump's administration has proposed rolling back federal environmental and climate change policies, which critics say could boost pollution and threaten human health. Republicans are promoting them as ways to reduce the cost of living and boost the economy. The state Utilities Commission, which regulates rates and services for public utilities, already has pushed back the 2030 deadline — as the 2021 law allows — by at least four years. The panel acknowledged last year it was 'no longer reasonable or executable' for Duke Energy to meet the reduction standard by 2030. Bill supporters say to meet the goal would require expensive types of alternate energy immediately. If the interim standard can be bypassed, GOP bill authors say, Duke Energy can assemble less expensive power sources now and moderate electricity rate increases necessary to reach the 2050 standard. 'Our residents shouldn't be saddled with higher power bills to satisfy arbitrary targets,' Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said in a news release after the vote. Citing an analysis performed by a state agency that represents consumers before the commission, GOP lawmakers say removing the interim goal would reduce by at least $13 billion what Duke Energy would have to spend — and pass on to customers — in the next 25 years. Bill opponents question the savings figure given uncertainty in plant fuel prices, energy demand and construction costs. They say the interim goal still holds an aspirational purpose and was something that Duke Energy had agreed in 2021 to meet. Provisions in the measure related to recouping plant construction expenses over time would reduce accumulated borrowing interest. Environmental groups argue the financing option would benefit Duke Energy's bottom line on expensive projects even if they're never completed, and the bill broadly would prevent cleaner energy sources from coming online sooner. They also contend another bill section would shift costs to residential customers. 'This bill is bad for all North Carolinians, whether they're Duke Energy customers or simply people who want to breathe clean air,' North Carolina Sierra Club director Chris Herndon said after the vote while urging Stein to veto the measure. Bill support came from the North Carolina Chamber and a manufacturers' group, in addition to Duke Energy. 'We appreciate bipartisan efforts by policymakers to keep costs as low as possible for customers and enable the always-on energy resources our communities need,' the company said this week.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
North Carolina lawmakers finalize bill that would scrap 2030 carbon reduction goal
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators finalized a bill Thursday that would eliminate an interim greenhouse gas reduction mandate set in a landmark 2021 law, while still directing regulators to aim to cancel out power plant carbon emissions in the state within the next 25 years. With some bipartisan support, the state Senate voted to accept the House version that would repeal the 2021 law's requirement that electric regulators take 'all reasonable steps to achieve' reducing carbon dioxide output 70% from 2005 levels by 2030. The law's directive to take similar steps to meet a carbon neutrality standard by 2050 would remain in place. The bill's Republican supporters pushing the new measure say getting rid of the interim goal benefits ratepayers asked to pay for future electric-production construction and is more efficient for Duke Energy, the state's dominant electric utility. The bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who can veto the measure, sign it or let it become law without his signature. Stein previously expressed concerns about the Senate version of the measure, worried that it could hurt electricity users and threaten the state's clean-energy economy. His office didn't immediately provide comment after Thursday's vote. With over a dozen House and Senate Democrats voting for the final version, the chances that any Stein veto could be overridden are higher. Republicans in charge of the General Assembly are only one House seat shy of a veto-proof majority. The bill also contains language that would help Duke Energy seek higher electric rates to cover financing costs to build nuclear or gas-powered plants incrementally, rather than wait until the project's end. The 2021 greenhouse gas law marked a rare agreement on environmental issues by then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican lawmakers. At least 17 other states — most controlled by Democrats — have laws setting similar net-zero power plant emissions or 100% renewable energy targets, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. North Carolina and Virginia are the only ones from the Southeast. The legislation came about as President Donald Trump's administration has proposed rolling back federal environmental and climate change policies, which critics say could boost pollution and threaten human health. Republicans are promoting them as ways to reduce the cost of living and boost the economy. The state Utilities Commission, which regulates rates and services for public utilities, already has pushed back the 2030 deadline — as the 2021 law allows — by at least four years. The panel acknowledged last year it was 'no longer reasonable or executable' for Duke Energy to meet the reduction standard by 2030. Bill supporters say to meet the goal would require expensive types of alternate energy immediately. If the interim standard can be bypassed, GOP bill authors say, Duke Energy can assemble less expensive power sources now and moderate electricity rate increases necessary to reach the 2050 standard. Citing an analysis performed by a state agency that represents consumers before the commission, GOP lawmakers say removing the interim goal would reduce by at least $13 billion what Duke Energy would have to spend — and pass on to customers — in the next 25 years. Bill opponents question the savings figure given uncertainty in plant fuel prices, energy demand and construction costs, and say the interim goal still holds an aspirational purpose to while Duke Energy agreed in 2021 to meet. Provisions in the measure related to recouping plant construction expenses over time would reduce accumulated borrowing interest. Environmental groups argue the financing option would benefit Duke Energy financially on expensive projects even if they're never completed, and the bill broadly would prevent cleaner energy sources from coming online sooner. 'This bill is bad for all North Carolinians, whether they're Duke Energy customers or simply people who want to breathe clean air,' North Carolina Sierra Club director Chris Herndon said after the vote while urging Stein to veto the measure. Bill support came from the North Carolina Chamber and a manufacturers' group, in addition to Duke Energy.
