Duke Energy Outlines Infrastructure Resilience Strategies

News Summary

Tim Pearson, President of Duke Energy South Carolina, has shared the company’s plans to enhance infrastructure resilience and future energy strategies. Duke Energy, serving over 835,000 electric customers in the state, focuses on reliability, affordability, and community support. Recent investments exceeding $10 billion aim to modernize the grid and improve storm response. Additionally, the company is addressing energy diversification and has established community programs to aid local initiatives. The commitment to enhancing utility services highlights Duke Energy’s proactive approach to meet South Carolina’s growing energy demands.

South Carolina – Duke Energy’s South Carolina President, Tim Pearson, recently outlined the company’s strategies for enhancing infrastructure resilience and energy future plans. Duke Energy serves approximately 835,500 electric retail customers and 164,000 natural gas customers statewide, focusing on delivering reliable energy, keeping costs affordable, and supporting community economic vitality.

Tim Pearson, who has held the position since 2023, is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy’s utilities in South Carolina. His role encompasses state and local regulatory relations and overseeing community engagement initiatives. Prior to his presidency, Pearson was vice president of government affairs for Duke Energy. He brings over a decade of experience in government and policy, having worked as an adviser to multiple South Carolina governors, including as chief of staff for Nikki Haley. Pearson resides in Columbia with his wife Ashton and their two children.

In the wake of challenges such as Hurricane Helene, which affected more than 1.34 million customers and resulted in extensive damage to infrastructure, Pearson noted the critical importance of infrastructure resilience. The company is committed to learning from past storms to better prepare for future events, emphasizing a strategy focused on enhancing grid resiliency to ensure reliable energy supply during severe weather conditions.

Over the past three years, Duke Energy has invested over $10 billion in grid resiliency and storm hardening initiatives. This includes modernizing the electric grid and implementing self-healing technology, which has successfully prevented around 130,000 outages in South Carolina in 2024 alone. These investments reflect Duke Energy’s commitment to improving customer service and response times during power restoration efforts.

Efforts to diversify energy sources are also part of Duke Energy’s plans, highlighted by the company’s support for House Bill 3309. This legislation is aimed at addressing the new generation needs necessary to meet the growing demands of the state’s economy. Duke Energy promotes an “all of the above” energy strategy, exploring both renewable energy and hydrogen-capable natural gas options. Additionally, investments in existing nuclear plants and exploration of advanced nuclear technology are underway.

In alignment with community support, the Duke Energy Foundation has contributed over $2 million since 2021 to tackle hunger relief efforts in South Carolina. This support exemplifies the company’s commitment to the economic vitality of the communities it serves, underpinning local initiatives as part of its core mission.

Additionally, Duke Energy recognizes the pivotal role of lineworkers in restoring power and maintaining infrastructure, especially after significant storms. The company is actively recruiting from community college lineworker training programs to address the growing need for skilled labor in the electricity infrastructure sector.

In summary, Duke Energy’s plans under the leadership of Tim Pearson focus on creating a more resilient energy infrastructure to cope with climate challenges, ensuring the reliability of service for its extensive customer base. Ongoing investments and legislative support highlight the company’s proactive approach to meet the energy demands of South Carolina’s future while supporting community wellbeing and maintaining affordable energy prices.

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