Duke Energy restores power to customers in the Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias

Duke Energy has restored power to most of its Florida customers who lost service during Hurricane Isaias, the company said. Isaias made landfall Friday night near Destin as a Category 2 hurricane, then moved inland. By Sunday morning, its post-tropical remnants were dumping heavy rain on the mid-Atlantic region, according to the National Hurricane Center. Duke crews worked to restore service to as many as 10,000 homes and businesses, and most had power back by the end of Saturday, according to the company. Most of Dukes North Florida customers are in Wakulla and Taylor counties. “The strategic investments we’ve made in a stronger, smarter grid are delivering clear benefits for customers — reducing outages, limiting their duration and helping us restore power faster when severe weather strikes,” Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida’s Storm Director, said in a news release. “We know our customers depend on the essential service we provide — safe, reliable power — to plan their lives and get back on their feet after storms like this one. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we wrap up our power restoration.” Before the storm, Duke moved crews and equipment from across the state into the region. Afterward, crews located and de-energized downed lines, repaired substations and transmission equipment, and prioritized restoring power to hospitals, police and fire stations, and water treatment plants. Most of Duke’s Florida customers are in the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida. The company serves more than 10,000 customers in Wakulla and Taylor counties in the Big Bend. Duke has about 2 million customers throughout Florida. At least four deaths have been linked to the storm, including two people killed when trees fell on homes in Florida and Alabama, The Associated Press reported. Forecasters warned that flooding could extend into the Appalachians, the AP reported. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center is forecasting widespread flash flooding from the remnants of Isaias in the areas of the mid-Atlantic region. That area stretches from New York to Kentucky. The post Duke Energy restores power to customers in the Panhandle after Hurricane Isaias appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..