Duke Energy has announced plans to rebuild three damaged substations in western North Carolina following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene. The substations, located in Biltmore Village, Hot Springs, and Swannanoa, sustained severe flooding during the storm, leaving thousands without power.

At the Biltmore Village substation, two of the three units were destroyed. A temporary mobile substation now supplies energy to approximately 6,700 customers. The substations in Hot Springs and Swannanoa, which collectively serve about 5,400 customers, are also relying on mobile units for power distribution.

To fund these reconstruction projects and cover damage from previous storms, Duke Energy plans to request approval for a storm bond from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The bond will total hundreds of millions of dollars and could impact customer bills starting late next year.

The company aims to rebuild with enhanced climate resilience, incorporating measures such as elevating infrastructure, constructing flood walls, and potentially replacing wood poles with steel or underground lines. "This is an opportunity to rebuild infrastructure with improved resiliency," said Bill Norton, a Duke Energy spokesperson.

Experts like Dalia Patino-Echeverri of Duke University acknowledge these measures as necessary steps but emphasize that additional efforts will be required to address increasing climate risks.

Reconstruction of the Biltmore Village substation could take up to a year, while the other two projects are expected to conclude within several months.

Source: bpr.org