Progress Energy Carolinas is nearly tripling its work force in the field with line and tree crews from other states. The company is assembling a repair work force of more than 1,500 to assist in restoring power as quickly as possible after a large winter storm moves through the Carolinas tonight and Saturday.



The storm is expected to bring significant amounts of snow to much of North Carolina, and sleet and ice to a wide portion of southern and eastern North Carolina and northern South Carolina. In some areas, ice accumulations could be in excess of one-half inch. Ice accumulations of more than one-quarter inch can cause significant damage to the electric system, as ice-laden trees and limbs fall into power lines.

Progress Energy crews from Florida and contract line and tree crews from Florida, Georgia, Maryland and other states are traveling to the Carolinas today, so they can be deployed to the areas with the most significant damage Saturday. In addition to the normal complement of about 570 company and contract line personnel, the company has made arrangements to bring in 380 off-system line personnel (including crews from Progress Energy Florida), 300 tree trimmers and 300 damage assessors.

Progress Energy will continue to monitor the storm around the clock. In many areas, the forecast calls for precipitation to continue throughout the day Saturday, which could hamper restoration efforts, particularly in areas with icy roads.

If the power goes out



The fastest way to report an outage is to call Progress Energy’s automated outage-reporting system at 800-419-6356. During and immediately following major storms, restoration times are difficult to predict. Progress Energy encourages customers to be prepared if an outage occurs. Customers with special needs who experience an outage should be prepared to seek alternate shelter until service is restored.

Safety



Progress Energy advises customers to take the following precautions:

· Stay away from downed power lines. Keep children and pets away as well. Always assume downed lines are energized. Call 919-419-6356 immediately if you see a downed line.

· Do not stand under ice-laden limbs or power lines. Be on the lookout for falling ice.

· Never use a generator indoors. Always follow manufacturer instructions.

· Charge mobile phones in advance of the storm.

· Keep at least one battery-powered flashlight where it can be located easily in the dark. Listen for storm information on a battery-powered radio. Keep an extra supply of fresh batteries.

· Make sure you are adequately stocked with canned goods and bottled water.

· Make sure any indoor heaters, such as wood stoves or kerosene heaters, have adequate ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Likewise, make sure the flue of your fireplace is working properly. Never use outdoor grills in the house.

· Make sure you have adequate fuel on hand for supplementary heating sources, such as a fireplace, wood-burning stove or kerosene heater.



Progress Energy storm information

Customers can track outages and see other storm information at www.progress-energy.com/storm . Customers can follow Progress Energy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/progressenergy .

Restoring power

After severe weather, Progress Energy takes specific steps to restore power. Progress Energy crews first assess damage and determine what crews, equipment and supplies will be needed to make repairs. The company uses a variety of tools to complete damage assessment, including helicopters in hard-to-access areas. Customers may see damage assessors patrolling their neighborhoods before crews arrive to begin work. Progress Energy Carolinas’ delivery system includes more than 6,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 60,000 miles of electric distribution lines.

Crews prioritize work to ensure the most customers are restored as quickly as possible. Essential services such as hospitals and emergency responders have priority.

Customers needing an electrician



Customers who have experienced electrical damage to their home – such as damage to a weatherhead or meter base – and who need a reputable electrician, can contact Progress Energy for referral through its Electrical Contractor Network (ECN). Interested customers should call 1-888-999-8856 and select option #4. Each contractor dispatched has met certain criteria to be part of the referral list. In some cases, electric service cannot be restored until home repairs are completed.



Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s Web site at www.progress-energy.com.