WAXHAW, NC – Residents and businesses in Waxhaw may have noticed an increase in brief power outages over the past two months. These interruptions are a result of a significant grid improvement project undertaken by Duke Energy to enhance the long-term reliability and resiliency of the local power supply.
The project involves upgrading infrastructure on both circuits that serve the Town of Waxhaw, encompassing the areas north and south of NC-75. Improvements include installing new power lines and poles, updated underground systems, and integrating "smart" grid technology.
According to a local Government and Community Manager and a project engineer from Duke Energy, the outages are a byproduct of the safety measures in place for the crews working on the live electrical lines. The system is intentionally made highly sensitive, so if a lineman comes into contact with a line, the power is immediately cut off to prevent injury. This heightened sensitivity also means contact with animals or tree limbs can trigger a temporary outage.
While this may lead to more frequent, short-term disruptions, the on-site crews are able to quickly identify the location of the fault and remotely re-energize the line, minimizing the duration of the outage.
The south side of Waxhaw is more susceptible to these interruptions as its power is sourced from a location over 12 miles away in Monroe, meaning there is a greater length of power lines where an issue can occur.
To mitigate these outages, Duke Energy has increased the number of crews dedicated to the project to expedite its completion and is actively trimming tree limbs that could interfere with the power lines.
The anticipated timeline for the completion of the project is as follows:
- North of NC-75: Beginning of July
- South of NC-75: Beginning of August
Upon completion, residents can expect a significant decrease in the frequency of power outages.
If residents have any questions or concerns about these outages, they are encouraged to contact Duke Energy directly. You can report an outage or view the current outage map on the Duke Energy website.
