POWER OUTAGES: Tens Of Thousands Without Electricity

Latest update Total Progress Energy customers out in North Carolina - approximately 170,200 Peak customers out 280,000 - 2 p.m. Aug. 27 Counties with 5,000 or more customers out as of 10 a.m. County Customers Carteret 24,000 Wayne 20,200 Craven 18,000 New Hanover 12,800 Onslow 12,200 Nash 13,600 Lenoir 8,800 Franklin 8,100 Johnston 7,100 Duplin 6,000 Wake 5,400.

Fewer than 5,000 outages in numerous other counties in coastal and eastern N.C.


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Progress Energy has restored service to thousands of customers who lost power in the wake of Hurricane Irene, and more than 1,200 utility workers and tree crews - now four times the normal complement - are taking aim on approximately 176,000 customers still without power as of 9 a.m.

Company employees are patrolling by land, water and air to assess damage and restore service.

The highest number of outages at any one time was estimated at approximately 280,000 around 2 p.m. Saturday. The actual number of customers who experienced outages at one time or another during the storm was significantly higher. In fact, since noon on Friday, Aug. 26, as the first bands of Hurricane Irene reached the Carolinas, more than 440,000 customers have lost power for varying periods.

Due to the size and path of Hurricane Irene, Progress Energy crews were restoring service in parts of the Carolinas even as Irene was creating new damage.

Progress Energy estimates it will take several days to complete repairs, especially in the hardest-hit areas, where storm damage was most severe. The company's efforts to complete full-scale damage assessment were impeded by the lingering storm and high winds through the day and evening Saturday.

In addition to normal vehicles, the company is using tracked equipment, boats and helicopters to complete damage assessment and access equipment in flooded or remote areas. The storm left significant flooding in many areas, further complicating restoration.

As of 9 a.m. today, approximately 176,000 customers are without power. Counties with the largest numbers of remaining outages include Carteret (24,000); Wayne (20,700); Craven (18,000); New Hanover (15,000); Nash (13,400); Onslow (13,300); Lenoir (9,100); Franklin (8,600); Johnston (7,100); Wake (5,900); Duplin (5,700). There are fewer than 5,000 outages remaining in numerous counties in eastern and central North Carolina.

Progress Energy has brought in additional Progress Energy crews from the Carolinas and Florida and off-system crews and contractors from five states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Arkansas).
Following major storms, Progress Energy completes a comprehensive damage assessment, which allows the company to dispatch crews and equipment most efficiently.

Doing the thorough assessment also enables the company to provide customers with the most accurate information about damage and restoration times.

Customers who have not yet reported their power out should do so by calling 1-800-419-6356. Our automated outage-reporting system is capable of handling 120,000 calls per hour.