Duke Energy Indiana brings in hundreds of line workers

PLAINFIELD, INDIANA - Duke Energy has expanded its Indiana work force with an additional 500 field employees and contractors from the Carolinas and elsewhere. Another 60 contractors joined the effort September 17.

Most of the additional workers are Duke Energy employees from the companyÂ’s utilities in North Carolina and South Carolina. Contractors who typically work for the company in the Southeast and Midwest are also part of the group.

High winds from Hurricane Ike tore through Indiana and knocked out power to more than 300,000 Duke Energy Indiana customers. The company had approximately 82,000 customers out of service.

High winds caused extensive damage to power infrastructure, resulting in outages in virtually every Duke Energy district in the state. The hardest hit areas were Clarksville, Seymour, Connersville, Corydon, Madison, Bedford and Bloomington. The majority of those customers should be restored to service by September 19. Power restoration in Bloomington and Clarksville may continue into the following day.