Progress Energy Carolinas Claims to be Prepared For 2009 Hurricane Season

RALEIGH (May 26, 2009) -- Although hurricane season doesn't officially begin until June 1, activity in the Tropics this week foretells the possibility of an active year. Progress Energy Carolinas is prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings. The company said last week it has a detailed plan in place to ensure it can respond quickly, safely and decisively to storm damage and power outages.

The company's comprehensive storm plan provides the ability to mobilize thousands of employees and outside resources as needed. And a continuous focus on improvement has reduced restoration time and costs over the last decade.

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"Here in the Carolinas, hurricanes are a fact of life," said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. "We all hope for the best, but we have to plan for the possibility of major storms damaging the electric system our customers depend on. We know our customers rely on us to restore service quickly after storms and to keep them informed."

New in 2009, customers and others will be able to follow storm restoration efforts via updates on Twitter. The social networking tool can be accessed by most mobile phones, enabling continued communication after a storm if power is out. Twitter users can follow Progress Energy by searching for "Progress Energy" using the site's Find People feature. Customers can also view maps showing current power outages at www.progress-energy.com/outagemap.

Progress Energy employees perform a variety of jobs during storms, from arranging staging and logistical details to assessing storm damage, answering customer calls, and, most visibly, repairing damage and restoring power throughout the company's 34,000-square-mile service area.

Progress Energy's commitment to excellence in storm response has earned the utility the Emergency Response Award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) five times in the program's 11-year history. Progress Energy also won the EEI Emergency Assistance Award for its role in aiding utilities and citizens in Texas and Ohio following Hurricane Ike in 2008, and in the Gulf Coast region after a series of devastating hurricanes in 2005.

"We practice and refine our storm response throughout the year to ensure that we're prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings our way," said Yates. "The start of hurricane season is also a good reminder for our customers to make sure they have their own storm plan in place."

Forecasts call for an active Atlantic storm season. Progress Energy offers these tips to prepare for a storm:

* Create (or inventory and update) an emergency supply kit containing the following items: portable radio with fresh batteries, flashlight, candles or lamps, matches, first-aid kit, non-cordless landline phone, canned or packaged food that can be prepared without cooking or refrigeration, several days' supply of drinking water, medicine and cash.
* Review your insurance policy and put a copy in your supply kit along with copies of other important paperwork.
* Review your evacuation plan and decide where you will stay if you need to leave your home. Don't forget to include your pets in the plan. Many shelters don't accept animals.
* Plan to move someone who relies on electric-powered life-support equipment to a facility outside of the storm's projected path to avoid the risk of an extended power outage.
* Check outside your home for trees or shrubs that need to be trimmed or appear weak. Don't trim near power lines. Call a professional for this potentially dangerous work.

Progress Energy customers who lose power during a storm should call the 24-hour automated outage line at 800-419-6356. This service provides the same information available from customer service associates and is the fastest way to report a power outage. This technology also offers an option to allow customers to receive a call when new information becomes available regarding power restoration. This state-of-the-art automated system is capable of accepting more than 125,000 calls per hour during widespread outages.

For additional storm information and safety tips, visit the Progress Energy Web site at www.progress-energy.com/storm.

Source: Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN)