Duke Energy is using new tools to help keep power flowing or get it back online quickly when storms hit.
Duke Energy's new grid control center near downtown Raleigh uses smart technology to reduce outages, and the centralized center allows crews to be dispatched quickly to anywhere in the state.
Duke Energy said the center, described as “one of the most advanced facilities in the nation,” will make its electric utility business more efficient and resilient.
The building, set to open in late 2023, will be located along Rush Street near downtown Raleigh and will replace an older facility that has served the area for decades.
The “self-healing” technology used in the new facility allows Duke Energy to restore power with the click of a button. Essentially, the technology shuts off problem areas and reroutes power to minimize the impact of an outage.
Experts say a power outage could mean the difference between 2,000 people being affected or 200.
“We can reduce the impact of an outage by up to 75 percent and often restore power in less than a minute,” said Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks. “When we think about restoring power, power is safety for our customers. When power is lost, it impacts our customers' lives — not just because it's an inconvenience, but because it disrupts their work, their productivity and their time with their families. That's why it's so important that we can restore power as safely and quickly as possible.”
Duke Energy's central location could make it more vulnerable to physical and cyberattacks, but the building is surrounded by a heavy fence.
Brooks told WRAL News that employees monitor the system daily for any suspicious cyber activity.
WRAL News has several guides to help families prepare for a hurricane.
