Duke Energy's Jeff Brooks says power crews are preparing for the historic winter storm causing power outages throughout the southern U.S. and Gulf Coast on Jan. 21.
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00:00Jeff, can you give us the latest on what your team is doing in terms of preparing for that ice building up?
00:09Well, we are seeing the potential for winter precipitation across much of our Carolina service area as well as that little portion of the panhandle
00:17North Florida there. And, you know, what's always important in a winter storm, as I know you said, is that dividing line between snow and ice.
00:24For us, a quarter of an inch of ice means tree limbs start coming down on power lines and outages start to spread.
00:30But a dry snow event, if we're looking at one to three inches, probably not going to create too many issues for us, certainly some isolated problems.
00:38But for us, it's interesting because we're seeing an event more in our coastal areas, which often is not a space that we typically see winter weather impacts.
00:47So that's something else we have to watch and be prepared for.
00:50Yeah, that's certainly what we're forecasting, that the ice is the greatest risk for that is along the coast.
00:55So it seems to me from what you just said, it's more of a problem with the ice than it is the snow.
01:01And does the cold, does this this kind of cold widespread have any effect on the grid as well?
01:09Yeah, you know, the grid is a machine like any other machine.
01:12It's designed to work in extreme conditions.
01:15But when you've got millions of parts and components and you put it in sub-freezing temperatures for multiple days, there's always additional stress that goes on the system.
01:24So the chance for some isolated outages from that is certainly there.
01:27For us also, it's about reliably meeting our customers' energy needs.
01:31We've got an extended period of very cold temperatures.
01:34So we're going to be bringing all of our power generation to bear, making sure it's available, making sure our plants and cold weather protections are in place so they continue to function.
01:43And then, you know, looking at opportunities if we need it to bring in more power from other regions.
01:48You know, all of that is part of the formula.
01:50You're looking at both the precipitation, but also managing customer energy needs.
01:57And, you know, you're talking about not just the Carolinas, but also Florida.
02:01You have the many residents in or in customers in northern Florida.
02:05And some of these areas are even wooded.
02:08Can you talk about some of those especially at-risk areas for these power outages for those tree branches to start to come down and potentially cause problems?
02:18Well, yeah, you know, we see the same thing in hurricanes.
02:21We saw it twice this year up in the Panhandle.
02:23This is an area that has a lot of rural communities, some cities, but a lot of trees.
02:28And when you have that quarter of an inch of ice or more, there's always the potential for those down limbs.
02:35And the weight of that ice is why it doesn't take so much.
02:38With snow, you've got to have a little more accumulation to get the same weight.
02:42But certainly, that's the threat that we were looking most for.
02:45The other interesting thing is, too, you see, you know, you're showing vehicles driving along the roads.
02:50When those roads get icy and cars get out there and drive, we see time and time again cars creating outages from hitting utility poles.
02:57So the treacherous conditions, best to stay home during some of this.
03:01Let the emergency crews do their work, but certainly take care if you're going to be out.
03:05That is a live look at Pensacola.
03:07You know, we knew it was going to happen, but it's still a sight to see.
03:10All right, Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks, thanks for joining us.
03:13Great information, and stay warm.
03:16Thanks.