(UNDATED) – Wednesday’s powerful Indiana storms ripped through the state, bringing down power lines, poles and other critical electrical infrastructure.
Duke Energy has restored power to more than 77,000 customers as of 4 p.m. Thursday. We have about 22,000 remaining out of service.
The company expects to restore the majority of customers by 11:59 p.m. Friday; however many will be restored sooner.
However, due to extensive damage in the Westfield/Carmel area where Duke Energy has approximately 40 transmission poles down, power restoration may extend to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday for customers in primarily the Derby Ridge subdivision.
The company, though, is continuing to look for ways to shorten power restoration times for all areas it serves.
“We know this is an extremely challenging time, and extended power outages can cause added stress,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. “We worked through the night to restore service to critical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. We have an army of resources responding to restore power as quickly as possible, and we thank our customers for their patience while we restore their power.”
There is statewide damage, but two of the hardest-hit areas are Vincennes and Hamilton County.
In Hamilton County there are approximately 40 poles down that carry two major power lines on them along Ditch Road between 161st Street and State Road 32. The damage left the company’s Ditch Road substation inoperable.
Duke Energy was able to reroute power to restore service to the majority of customers in that area, but some of the Westfield customers affected will remain out of service until the poles are replaced.
Customers experiencing a power outage can report their outage to Duke Energy in multiple ways – by phone at 800-343-3525, Duke Energy’s mobile app, online through the company’s website or by texting their outage to 57801.
The company is cautioning the public to avoid fallen power lines and assume they are energized. Contact Duke Energy at 800-343-3525 and do not touch a power line or anything in contact with it and keep others away until help arrives.
For everyone’s safety in this period of social distancing, Duke Energy ask the public to please not approach crews in the field and allow them to focus on their work. Please call Duke Energy with any questions you have.
