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Duke Energy details process of how they determine where to restore power first

Thousands throughout the Carolinas were still without power Friday following strong storms.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thousands still remain without power following the latest round of heavy storms. While several residents question how the power is restored, Duke Energy details how they process widespread power outages. 

Residents like Scarlett Espinoza shared what the last few days have been like with no power. 

“I felt like they forgot about us because the other side of the neighborhood, they do have power over there. And we're the only ones that don't," she said. "So we've been having to go by eyes save our meats, and then our milks, and we haven't been able to cook. So it's been fast food all the time.”

Jeannie Buckingham wonders why some in her neighborhood have power, but not all. 

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“They say they can't put us on the same grid - that was West Meck or the same grid - that neighborhood and back is on all around West Meck is out of power," she said. "West Meck has power, always has power. They said 'can't put you on the grid'. Why not?" 

Across the Carolinas, Duke Energy says it has seen around 300,000 customers lose power. The utility provided an outline of the process workers use to determine when and where to start restoring power:

  1. Look for public safety situations. Locate downed power lines and make sure electricity is no longer flowing through the wires.
  2. Check for transmission substations so crews can address any issues with main distribution lines. These serve large numbers of customers and large geographic areas
  3. Handle the needs for essential services. Duke Energy serves hospitals, fire departments, and police stations.
  4. Work on distribution lines to get the largest number of customers back on as quickly as possible.

That fourth part is where Duke Energy says most customers are going to be served, according to Logan Kurecza with the utility.

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"A main distribution line [is] going to feed into the smaller distribution lines in neighborhoods, and a lot of times there are neighborhoods that have multiple main distribution lines that feed into them," she said. "So that's one of the reasons why your neighbors on your street may have power and you don't, and that's a part of that. We design our system that way on purpose just because it helps us to manage outages better.”

Duke Energy shares that it has several crews working to restore power and have even called in resources from other service areas. The hope is to have most of the outages restored by the end of Friday.

Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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