Does living near a NC hospital mean you get power back quicker? It depends

A winter storm expected to coat parts of the Piedmont with up to an inch of ice prompted fears of widespread power outages across North Carolina.

Duke Energy planned to have about 18,000 crew members ready to respond, company spokesperson Logan Stewart told The Charlotte Observer in an email.

During major outages, crews prioritize restoring power to hospitals and other critical facilities. So does that mean people who live nearby will get their lights back first?

Here’s what you need to know.

Do you get your power restored faster if you live near a hospital?

Sometimes. During the power restoration process, Duke Energy prioritizes public health and safety facilities first, followed by “lines that serve the largest number of customers,” such as transmission lines and main distribution lines, Stewart told The Observer.

“If you shared a line with one of those facilities that was restored first then yes, you would be restored faster,” Stewart said.

That means living near a hospital doesn’t guarantee your power will come back first — it only happens sooner if your home is actually on the same electrical circuit as one of those priority facilities or major lines.

Does this only apply to hospitals?

No. The company also places emphasis on law enforcement buildings, fire departments, water treatment facilities and pumping stations during the power restoration process. So your power could be restored faster if you live near one of these places.

Why is my neighbor’s power restored but mine isn’t?

It’s normal to see a neighbor get power back while your home is still dark, Duke Energy says.

Different houses can be on different circuits, and some lines are restored before others. In some cases, the issue may be with your own service line or meter, even after the main line is fixed.

What to do if your power goes out

Here are some tips from Ready.gov on what to do if your power goes out:

• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed.
• Use generators outdoors only, away from windows.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home — it’s a fire and carbon monoxide risk.
• Unplug electronics to prevent surge damage.
• Plan ahead for refrigerated medicines or power-dependent medical devices.
• Check with local officials for nearby warming centers.

This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 11:05 AM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.