Duke Energy preparing to respond to winter storm system in Ohio, Kentucky

Duke Energy is monitoring and preparing for a winter storm system that may cause power outages across southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. A mix of heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain and high winds is predicted to move across the region beginning early Wednesday morning and continuing through Friday morning.

“As severe winter weather approaches, we’re encouraging customers across our service territories to prepare for possible outages,” said Kevin Morgan, Duke Energy’s general manager for emergency preparedness. “Our team is making preparations to ensure we can restore electricity to impacted customers as soon as possible.”

Snow on its own typically has little to no impact on the electric system. However, heavy wet snow accumulation, freezing rain and high winds may bring down trees, limbs and power lines. These types of winter storms can also create hazardous driving conditions, which could delay and impede Duke Energy workers’ ability to assess storm damage and restore power.

Duke Energy has called in 300 additional response workers from out-of-state utilities – including lineworkers, damage assessors and vegetation crews – to supplement local crews and speed power restoration. Crews will work around-the-clock to restore power in impacted communities as quickly as possible.