Duke Energy crews from Florida, the Midwest and the Carolinas are in Florida, assessing damage and restoring power after Hurricane Irma left millions across the state without power, including 1.2 million Duke Energy customers.
Duke Energy had restored power to more than 400,000 customers by Tuesday afternoon, though the transmission system – the backbone of the electrical system – sustained significant damage. The company is working to repair the damage and re-energize substations.Almost all Duke Energy customers are expected to have power restored by midnight Sunday.
More than 12,000 line workers, tree professionals, damage assessment and support personnel are working in all 35 of the counties the company serves. The hardest-hit counties are Pinellas, Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Highlands.
Duke Energy spokesperson Ana Gibbs (@DE_AnaGibbs) filed photos showing restoration on twitter from St. Petersburg (Pinellas County) and Lee Freedman (@DE_LeeF) filed from Apopka.