Power outages are currently being experienced across eastern North Carolina as a winter storm brings snow, strong winds, and plunging temperatures to the area. Utility providers and local officials report scattered outages, particularly in Carteret County, where conditions continue to worsen.
Local authorities are reminding residents not to call 911 to report power outages unless there is an emergency situation, such as a medical device needing power or a fire-related event. Instead, they should contact their service providers directly. It is also advised to avoid downed or low-hanging power lines, assuming that they are energized.
For reporting outages, residents can contact:
– Duke Energy at 800-769-3766 or text OUT to 57801. They also provide an outage map online.
– Carteret-Craven Electric at 252-247-3107, with an available outage map on their website.
To alleviate the strain on the power grid during this extreme weather, Duke Energy is asking customers across the Carolinas to voluntarily conserve electricity, particularly on Monday morning when demand is expected to peak. Residents are encouraged to set their thermostats to the lowest comfortable setting, refrain from using major appliances, and turn off unnecessary devices. Electric vehicle owners are advised to charge their vehicles during the day when the demand is lower.
Greenville Utilities has announced that its offices will be closed on Monday due to hazardous road conditions brought about by the snowstorm. However, utility crews will remain on duty to address emergencies.
As of 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the latest reported outages in the region include:
– Beaufort County: 2 outages
– Carteret County: 5 outages
– Duplin County: 1 outage
– Lenoir County: 1 outage
– Onslow County: 5 outages
The overall situation reflects the significant impact of the winter storm, urging a collective effort from residents to conserve energy and maintain stability in power supply as the region navigates through these challenging conditions.