Power crews working to restore electricity in Ohio and Kentucky

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  • This morning’s strong winds – including 70-mph gusts – led to a peak of 45,861 power outages in Greater Cincinnati

  • Approximately 30,000 customers remain without power as of 3 p.m. today

  • Company thanks customers for their patience as work continues on scattered, isolated outages

CINCINNATI – More than 30,000 Duke Energy customers in Ohio and Kentucky remain without electric service following powerful storms this morning. This is down from a high of nearly 46,000 customer outages at 8:15 a.m.

“Our crews are working to remove downed trees, replace broken power poles, restring power lines and restore power,” said Howard Fowler, Duke Energy’s storm director. “We’ve made significant progress, and we appreciate our customers’ patience and support as we continue to work as quickly and safely as possible.”

Crews responding to widespread outages

Clermont County in Ohio and Boone County in Kentucky were the hardest hit areas on the Duke Energy system this morning. The infrastructure damage, including multiple broken poles and equipment, will involve some lengthy repair work. In some areas, winds gusted between 60-70 mph.

“Ongoing wind gusts exceeding 35 mph are hampering restoration efforts in some areas, as high winds make it unsafe for our line technicians to extend the buckets on their service trucks,” said Fowler.

Click here for an infographic that explains how Duke Energy restores power. A short YouTube video also illustrates our process.

Restoration estimates are as follows:

Kentucky:

  • Boone, Kenton, Campbell Counties -- 11:45 p.m. Thursday

Ohio:

  • Clermont, Brown Counties -- 11:45 p.m. Thursday

  • Hamilton County -- 11:45 a.m. Thursday

  • Warren, Butler Counties -- 11 p.m. today

Outage reporting and status updates

Customers who are without power should report their outage by:

  • Texting OUT to 57801 (Standard text and data charges may apply)

  • Calling the automated outage-reporting system at 800.543.5599

These resources also provide estimated restoration times, when available.

Safety first

Duke Energy reminds customers to stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all power lines energized, as well as trees or limbs in contact with power lines. Please report downed power lines to Duke Energy.

If a power line falls across a car you’re in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.

Customers should be prepared

Customers should be prepared for the potential of an extended outage. Duke Energy urges customers to:

  • Check supplies of flashlights, batteries, bottled water, non-perishable foods, medicines, etc.

  • Ensure a portable, battery-operated radio, TV or NOAA weather radio is on hand.

  • Avoid heating homes with a gas grill or bringing a generator inside. Such equipment should be operated only outdoors, and only in well-ventilated areas. Manufacturer instructions should be followed.

  • Check on family members, friends and neighbors who have special medical needs or who are elderly, to ensure they have necessary emergency supplies.

  • Determine now what action they would take in the event of an extended power outage.

About Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky’s operations provide electric service to about 850,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area and natural gas service to approximately 529,000 customers.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company’s Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

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