This Region's Power Grid Is Getting a Sci-Fi Upgrade to Make Blackouts a Thing of the Past

PEE DEE REGION – As hurricane season looms, the familiar dread of storm-induced blackouts is a reality for many. But what if the power grid could fight back on its own? Duke Energy is unleashing a massive technological overhaul across the Pee Dee region, promising not just stronger infrastructure, but a smarter grid designed to keep your lights on when it matters most.

This isn't just about trimming trees. The company is fundamentally reinforcing the backbone of the electrical system in a full-scale armor upgrade. Vulnerable wooden transmission poles in hard-to-reach and wind-battered areas are being systematically replaced with formidable steel titans. More than 85 miles of crucial power lines have already been upgraded, ensuring the physical pathways for your electricity are tougher and more durable than ever before. This is the first line of defense against the high winds and severe weather that threaten the region year after year.

But the real game-changer isn't just the muscle; it's the new brain. Duke Energy is installing cutting-edge "self-healing" technology across the network. This isn't science fiction—it's a smart system that can automatically detect a problem, like a downed power line, and instantly reroute electricity around the damage. This intelligent response can restore power to many customers in a matter of seconds or minutes, often before they even realize there was an issue. This revolutionary tech is designed to drastically reduce the duration and scope of frustrating outages.

"This work is helping increase reliability and resiliency and better protect our system against extreme weather," explained Logan Stewart, Duke Energy's lead communications manager. He emphasized that these sweeping upgrades, which include major work on 16 critical substations, are about more than just storm-proofing. "It is also helping support the rapid population and economic growth in the Pee Dee region." The investment is designed to create a grid that is not only resilient today but ready for the demands of a growing community tomorrow.

For residents of the Pee Dee, this massive project represents a new era of energy security. By combining reinforced hardware with intelligent, automated software, Duke Energy is aiming to make lengthy, storm-related power outages a relic of the past. The goal is simple: a stronger, smarter grid that bounces back faster, keeping homes and businesses powered through whatever the weather throws at it.