CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy is launching a 10-year $13 billion project to modernize its entire electrical system across North Carolina.
Duke Energy officials said this will make the system more reliable, more secure and in some cases, less expensive.
The utility company plans to strengthen the system against storms by moving more lines underground and installing new technology that reroutes power when sections go out.
Duke Energy is also upgrading its smart meter system and expanding its renewable energy.
The company’s main goal is to eliminate more outages.
"We are so dependent upon electricity that, when we have a power outage as a result of a storm or for whatever reason, it really very quickly brings our lives and our businesses to a grinding halt," Tim Pettit, with Duke Energy, said.
Officials said this will also create 14,000 jobs.
North Carolina's electrical grid is the sixth largest in the country.
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