Duke Energy urges Carolinas customers to prepare for multiday outages from Winter Storm Fern
Rhea-AI Summary
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) urges Carolinas customers to prepare for Winter Storm Fern on Jan. 22, 2026, and warns of possible multiday power outages from snow, sleet or freezing rain.
The company said it has staged equipment, set up mobile command centers and mobilized more than 18,000 workers (including mutual-aid crews) to respond when conditions are safe. Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electric customers in the Carolinas and reminded customers to sign up for outage alerts, update My Account info, and follow safety and generator-use guidance.
Positive
- 18,000 workers staged for storm response
- Staged mobile command centers and equipment for faster restoration
- Grid upgrades include smart, self-healing technology
Negative
- Possible multiday outages in areas with heavy ice or downed trees
- A quarter inch of ice can bring down trees and lines
- Restoration may be delayed by blocked roads and hazardous travel
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, DUK declined 1.39%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
DUK slipped 0.15% with key peers also down: SO -0.2%, AEP -0.64%, D -0.94%, EXC -0.13%, while NGG rose 0.2%, suggesting a mostly sector-wide utility softness.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16 | Customer tips | Positive | +0.3% | Winter tips and assistance programs for managing higher heating bills. |
| Jan 16 | Customer programs | Positive | +0.3% | Bill-lowering programs, smart thermostat credits and time-of-use options. |
| Jan 15 | Governance agreement | Positive | +0.3% | Governance-focused settlement with activist investor and 8-K disclosure. |
| Jan 14 | Rate relief | Positive | +0.2% | Early removal of storm cost charge and bill reductions for customers. |
| Jan 14 | Grid battery project | Positive | +1.1% | Commissioning of new battery storage and plans for additional BESS builds. |
Recent customer-focused and grid investment news has generally aligned with modestly positive next-day price reactions.
Over the last few days, Duke-related news has emphasized customer support in cold weather, bill management tools, early removal of a storm cost recovery charge, and new battery storage at a former coal plant. All five tracked items since Jan 14, 2026 showed small positive price reactions (up to 1.1%). Today’s winter-storm readiness update fits the pattern of operational and reliability-focused communications to Carolinas customers.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective Form S-3ASR dated 2025-09-30 registers up to $4,000,000,000 of PremierNotes, with a maximum net aggregate principal amount outstanding of $2,000,000,000. A 424B3 filing on 2025-12-22 updated interest rates, indicating the program is active.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement emphasizes Duke Energy’s preparations for Winter Storm Fern, including more than 18,000 workers and extensive grid-readiness measures to protect 4.7 million Carolinas electric customers. It follows other recent customer- and reliability-focused updates, such as bill relief and new battery storage assets. Key factors to monitor include actual outage duration, restoration timelines, and any follow-up regulatory or cost-recovery filings once storm impacts are fully assessed.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The latest
- Winter Storm Fern could bring snow, sleet or freezing rain as soon as Saturday, creating hazardous travel conditions and, in areas with heavy ice accumulation, the potential for extended outages.
- Winter precipitation can increase the risk of power outages.
- A quarter inch of ice can bring down trees and branches onto power lines.
- A half inch or more can weigh down the lines themselves.
- Six inches of heavy, wet snow can cause similar problems.
- Tree and vegetation crews are trimming in advance of the storm to reduce outage risks.
- More than 18,000 workers will be ready to respond as soon as conditions are safe.
- This includes Duke Energy lineworkers based in the Carolinas, third-party vegetation and power line crews, and Duke Energy lineworkers from
Florida ,Indiana ,Kentucky andOhio .
- This includes Duke Energy lineworkers based in the Carolinas, third-party vegetation and power line crews, and Duke Energy lineworkers from
- Duke Energy serves about 4.7 million electric customers in the Carolinas – about 3.8 million in
North Carolina and nearly 860,000 inSouth Carolina .
What Duke Energy is doing
- Monitoring forecasts from its meteorologists.
- Mobilizing thousands of lineworkers, tree crews and support staff across the Carolinas.
- Staging equipment in key areas for faster response.
- Setting up mobile command centers, staging sites and basecamps to accommodate visiting storm workers.
- Preparing to rapidly deploy damage assessors, tree crews and lineworkers once conditions are safe for travel.
- Coordinating with local and state emergency management officials.
What customers should do right now
- Make a plan and prepare an emergency kit: This includes charging phones, gathering flashlights and extra batteries, and other easy, critical actions.
- Use the enhanced American Red Cross Emergency app: The free app, sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation, offers emergency checklists, interactive maps of open shelters and the ability to monitor multiple locations for weather alerts.
- Download or update the Duke Energy smartphone app: Available via Apple Store or Google Play.
- Confirm Duke Energy account login info: Log in via My Account or mobile app to review and update contact info and communications preferences.
- Sign up for outage alerts: Receive outage information and restoration updates by text, phone or email.
- Know how to report an outage: Submit outage reports online, via mobile app, by texting OUT to 57801 or calling 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
What customers should expect
- Safety first: Stay away from downed power lines and storm debris. Use generators safely and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Grid improvements help speed restoration: Duke Energy has upgraded poles and wires, placed outage-prone lines underground and added smart, self-healing technology that can reroute power automatically – helping reduce outages and speed restoration.
- Outages still possible: Despite these improvements, severe weather can still cause extended outages, especially in areas with downed trees or debris.
- Restoration takes time: Crews will begin assessing damage and restoring power as soon as it's safe. In some areas, restoration may be delayed due to blocked roads, hidden damage or hazardous travel conditions.
Our view
Rick Canavan, Duke Energy storm director: "While the forecast is still uncertain, it's very possible that we could experience the Carolinas' most extreme winter storm in over 20 years.
- "Our teams are tracking this storm closely, getting equipment and crews in place now so we can respond quickly once it's safe. Because winter weather can change quickly, we want customers to have the information they need and be prepared before conditions deteriorate."
More information
- X: @DukeEnergy, @DukeEnergyNC and @DukeEnergySC
- Facebook: facebook.com/DukeEnergy
- Current outages: duke-energy.com/OutageMap
- Storm tips: duke-energy.com/StormTips
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy
FAQ
When should DUK customers in the Carolinas expect Winter Storm Fern impacts?
How many lineworkers has Duke Energy mobilized for Winter Storm Fern (DUK)?
How can DUK customers report outages during Winter Storm Fern?
What preparations does Duke Energy recommend for DUK customers before Winter Storm Fern?
Will Duke Energy’s grid upgrades reduce outage duration for DUK customers?
