Duke Energy reported that more than 18,000 customers in North and South Carolina were without power as of Sunday afternoon due to Winter Storm Fern. The storm brought freezing rain and sleet across the region, causing trees, branches, and power lines to fall.
Low temperatures are expected to keep ice on tree limbs and power lines, which could result in additional outages even after the precipitation ends. Duke Energy has advised customers with electricity on ways to conserve energy during the cold weather expected throughout the week.
By 4 p.m. on January 25, Duke Energy had restored power to 24,864 customers in the Carolinas. According to the company, line workers continue to assess damage and restore service as conditions allow. The utility has also used self-healing technology to remotely reroute electricity around damaged equipment.
In areas where road conditions remain hazardous, Duke Energy will deploy crews—including line workers, damage assessors, and tree trimmers—as soon as it is safe for them to reach affected infrastructure.
At 4 p.m., there were still 18,016 customers without power: 14,802 in North Carolina and 3,214 in South Carolina. Weather forecasts indicate that outages may continue rising through Sunday night. Duke Energy said some outages could last several days and plans to publish estimated restoration times once assessments are complete.
The company serves approximately 4.7 million electric customers in North Carolina and South Carolina—about 3.8 million in North Carolina and nearly 860,000 in South Carolina.
Rick Canavan, storm director at Duke Energy, stated: “Winter Storm Fern continues to create dangerous conditions across the Carolinas, and we expect outage numbers will rise as ice continues bringing down trees and power lines.” He added: “Ice damage can persist long after a storm has passed. Even when skies clear up, falling tree limbs can be thirty times heavier due to ice buildup—making them much more likely to break electrical lines and poles.” Canavan also said: “We have teams positioned throughout the region; some are already restoring service while others stand ready for action when conditions permit.” He continued: “Once it’s safe enough for access, many of our crews will assess damage and restore service simultaneously rather than sequentially—so customers will see additional progress as soon as teams can safely reach affected areas.”
Duke Energy’s workforce responding to this event includes more than 18,000 line workers, vegetation specialists, damage assessors, and support staff for storms.
The company emphasized safety procedures during restoration work designed both to protect crews and prevent further equipment damage or hazards for communities. Restoration efforts typically prioritize repairs starting from transmission lines and substations before addressing smaller neighborhood circuits or individual sites; emergency facilities receive priority throughout this process.
Duke Energy also noted that an absence of utility trucks in a particular neighborhood does not mean work isn’t being done elsewhere—crews may be repairing upstream infrastructure such as substations or transmission lines required before local service can resume. The company is prepared to use helicopters, drones, tracked vehicles, or chained-tire trucks for assessment or repairs if necessary. Additional out-of-state crews may arrive by Tuesday if needed.
For those with electricity during this period of unusually cold weather—which is likely to increase energy usage—the company provided cost-saving tips such as lowering thermostats by a few degrees (which can reduce costs without sacrificing comfort), ensuring air filters are clean for better airflow efficiency; opening blinds on sunny days for natural warmth then closing them at night; running ceiling fans clockwise during winter months; among other measures.
