Power outages across the southern United States have intensified, with Duke Energy customers among those affected as widespread disruptions stretch across multiple states. Real-time outage tracking shows hundreds of thousands of homes without electricity as utilities respond to storm damage and grid stress.
According to nationwide outage monitoring data, more than 416,000 customers were without power across the US at the time of reporting. Mississippi was the hardest-hit state, with over 102,000 customers offline, followed by Texas with around 98,000, Tennessee with more than 83,000, and Louisiana with nearly 78,000 outages.
While Duke Energy is not the largest utility impacted nationwide, outages across its Carolina service areas are occurring within the same regional weather system affecting the Southeast. Utilities in neighbouring states are reporting elevated outage percentages, a signal that restoration efforts may take time where multiple circuits are damaged.
Utility-level data highlights the uneven nature of the disruption. Some local providers are reporting outage rates well above normal levels, with individual service areas seeing more than half of customers temporarily without power. These conditions often indicate downed distribution lines rather than generation failures.
Duke Energy says its restoration strategy prioritises critical infrastructure such as hospitals, emergency services, and water facilities before moving into residential neighbourhoods. Repair times can vary significantly depending on access, weather conditions, and the extent of damage along each feeder line.
Customers are advised to prepare for intermittent service during restoration, limit appliance use once power returns, and check on vulnerable neighbours during prolonged outages. Those dependent on electric medical devices are urged to activate backup plans where available.
Live updates, local maps, and estimated restoration times for Duke Energy customers are available through the official Duke Energy outage map, which is updated continuously as crews assess and repair damaged infrastructure.
As crews continue restoration work across the Southeast, utility officials warn that some pockets may experience extended outages, particularly in areas where multiple repairs are required before electricity can be safely restored.
Related: Winter storms can also strain the power grid. Here’s what Texans need to know about outages and emergency planning.
