After Saturday’s historic snowstorm, the Carolinas now face dangerously cold temperatures that could push wind chills below zero. Duke Energy is now urging customers to conserve power to reduce grid strain and possible outages.
Overnight lows could dip down into the single digits, and by Monday morning, wind chills could range from 0 to 5 degrees below zero. Even by 4pm, temperatures will only reach into the 30s.
Road conditions throughout the Charlotte region remain a major concern. Lingering snow and ice will keep many roads treacherous through Monday morning. Drivers should avoid travel if possible and carry blankets, water, and a flashlight if necessary.
Duke Energy warms that the extreme cold will significantly strain the power grid. They are asking customers across the Carolinas to voluntarily reduce energy usage tomorrow – especially during peak usage hours between 4am and 10am.
The utility says demand is running 10 to 20 degrees above normal for this time of year. To help prevent temporary outages, customers are encouraged to lower thermostats, delay major appliance use, turn off unused devices, and charge electric vehicles midday.
“We know it’s inconvenient to reduce electric use, but it makes a real difference.” said Duke Energy VP Gerald Wilson in a press release. “We are taking every step to meet our customers energy needs, including maximizing our generation and purchasing power and working with large commercial and industrial customers who have demand response programs. We appreciate our customers’ cooperation, patience and understanding as we work to maintain reliable service across the Carolinas.”
Temperatures in Charlotte are expected to remain under 50 until Friday afternoon.
