Cold Leaves 27,000 Homes Without Electricity in Anderson County

Duke Energy Using Rolling Blackouts in Attempt to Save Grid

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Grinch has nothing on Old Man Winter when it comes to being mean.

It's Christmas Eve, a time for preparations of the big meal and family gatherings, and more than 27,000 Duke Power Customers in Anderson County are without power. 

Duke Energy has started “rolling blackouts” across the Carolinas to address spiking demand for electricity due to the frigid temperatures, the company announced Saturday morning.

“Due to extremely cold temperatures driving unusually high demand, we have begun short, temporary power outages across our system,” the utility said on its website. “These emergency outages, also known as rolling blackouts, are necessary to protect the energy grid against longer, more widespread outages.” Duke said the rolling blackouts would last 15 to 30 minutes, although “in some cases, a crew will need to be dispatched, extending restoration times.”

The utility did not say how long the blackouts would continue, but its website estimates that power will be restored throughout the Carolinas by late Saturday night.

Duke Spokesman Ryan Mosier blamed the outage problems on the cold weather which led to increased holiday demand.

"The extremely low temperatures have put higher stress on the equipment used to generate and deliver electricity,” Mosier said. “Isolated equipment problems have resulted in scattered outages,” he added.

Mosier urged everyone to conserve energy, and had some advice for people who lose power.

“Turn off as many appliances and electronics as possible ,” he said. “This will help with restoration efforts as it will reduce the immediate demand on the power lines when power is restored.”

Once power is restored, Mosier said wait a few minutes before turning your equipment back on.

Customers who experience an outage should call Duke Energy’s automated outage-reporting system:  

• Duke Energy Carolinas: 1-800-POWERON (1-800-769-3766)
• Duke Energy Progress: 1-800-419-6356

Customers may also report an outage or view current outages online at duke-energy.com/storms.