Duke Energy continues to upgrade substations around the state, nearly a year after the power grid attack in Moore County. On Dec. 3, someone shot up two electrical substations in Moore county, leaving 40,000 homes and businesses in the dark for days.
The power company hosted a live "line demonstration" on Monday to show Durham County first responders how to stay safe when working near power lines. Cable Branch Box
While it was bullets that damaged substations and knocked out power in Moore County last December, something as simple as a balloon, a kite or a metal ladder can have the same effect – leaving homes without power and first responders in danger.
Indira Everett, director of Duke Energy's East Region, said, "You never know when the lines are energized, and you can't ever assume if they're down, they're not."
In addition to spreading the word on safety, the company is working to expand capacity, improving substations with pole replacements and wire size upgrades.
Everett said, "We've got projects ahead over the next several years. We're going to be doing a lot of work to make sure we're modernizing our grid, making sure it's ready for capacity, to bring on all that growth and solar, and other diverse mixes of energy."
Duke Energy's load growth is projected to surge by 35,000 gigawatt hours in the next 15 years. That's more than the annual electric generation of Delaware, Maine and New Hampshire combined.
In the middle of all of the new technology and changes, Everett says Duke wants to make sure anyone who may be near their equipment – especially first responders – stays safe.
"We want our employees, as well as the Durham County employees, to go home the same way they came," she said.
There have been no arrests in the targeted attacks in Moore County last year.
Distribution Equipment Up to $100,000 in reward money is being offered to anyone who can provide information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. Anyone with information should call the Moore County Sheriff’s Office at 910-947-4444, or contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI or tips.fbi.gov.