CAYCE, S.C. (Aug. 31, 2023) – Approximately 29,000 Dominion Energy customers in South Carolina lost power at the peak of Hurricane Idalia as it blew into the state with wind speeds up to 65 mph in the Lowcountry at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. By midnight, the number of outages had been reduced by half.

Outages will continue to decrease throughout the day as crews work to replace damaged equipment and infrastructure. Coastal Lowcountry areas – particularly Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties – were the hardest hit. Most customers will have their power restored today, with the exception of areas such as Daufuskie Island where damage was the most severe or access is limited. This can delay restoration by one or more days. Also, some customers’ equipment may not be capable of receiving power due to damage at their property, particularly the weatherhead or meter can. Customers should contact a certified electrician to make those repairs.

“Idalia wasn’t as rough a storm as it could have been, and the outage count wasn’t as big as projected, but our people were prepared for the worst,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “Our dedicated crews will work as long as it takes to safely get every one of our customers’ lights back on. I thank our customers for their patience, and I’m proud of our team in South Carolina who always come together to take care of our customers as quickly and safely as we can.”

Because Idalia was primarily a coastal event, Dominion Energy is reassigning crews as needed. For example, some personnel on the ground in the Aiken, Barnwell, Columbia, Johnston and North Augusta areas will now focus on the coast.

The company’s commitment to year-round vegetation management and the safeguarding of overhead lines played a key role in fast restoration. Also, staging crews – including contract workers from Dominion Energy Virginia – in strategic locations ahead of the storm helped with a rapid response.

Dominion Energy urges customers to stay safe and be informed:  

• Download the Dominion Energy app. The fastest and most secure way to report or track an outage is using the Dominion Energy app, which is free in the Apple and Google Play stores. Customers may also report outages by going to DominionEnergy.com or calling 800-251-7234. 
• Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume downed power lines are energized and dangerous. Keep in mind the downed lines may not always be visible and use extra caution when walking outside after a storm. Please remain at least 30 feet away and ensure that others avoid the downed line. South Carolina customers should call 888-333-4465 right away to report a downed power line. 
• Use caution when operating a portable generator. Be sure they are fueled, tested and connected in a well-ventilated area outdoors. Improper use of a generator could be life-threatening for customers and crews working to restore power. 
• Natural gas lines are typically not impacted during a hurricane or severe winds, so natural gas service is rarely interrupted.  Customers should leave their natural gas service on, even in the event of an evacuation. Leaving natural gas meters on helps to maintain proper pressure in the gas piping within homes or businesses and can prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur Customers may choose to turn off gas to individual appliances at the supply valve near each unit. However, the valve at the gas meter should be turned on or off only by qualified Dominion Energy representatives or emergency personnel. 
• Follow Dominion Energy on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @DomEnergySC. The company provides regular updates and additional tips to help keep customers informed and safe.

Customers can get real-time outage updates at Outage Map (dominionenergysc.com). For more information about Dominion Energy’s restoration process, visit our restoration Q&A page. 

About Dominion Energy
About 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.