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Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-0739

Gunfire damages Duke Energy substations in Moore County

Dec 2022Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MajorOtherProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
Two substations in Moore County, North Carolina
Operator
Duke Energy
What
Damaged by gunfire on 3 December 2022
Cause
Intentional gunfire
Outcome
Outage for nearly 45,000 people for five days

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Duke Energy

What happened

On 3 December 2022, two Duke Energy electrical substations in Moore County, North Carolina, were damaged by gunfire. Multiple shots disabled equipment at sites about ten miles apart in West End and Carthage. Authorities said the attacks were targeted and intentional. The same report puts the outage at nearly 45,000 people for five days and, elsewhere, at more than 45,000 people for a week. Duke Energy brought in special equipment and crews for the repairs. The attack was later cited as leading to a North Carolina law that increased penalties for damaging energy facilities.

Contributing factors

Investigators said the damage was caused by intentional gunfire at the substations, not by a random equipment fault. No further technical cause is reported.

Lessons learned

  1. Gunfire damage to exposed substation equipment requires physical barriers or surveillance that can prevent targeted attack.
  2. Repair crews and special equipment must be ready for simultaneous outages at sites ten miles apart.
  3. Intentional attacks on grid sites can lead to new laws that raise penalties for damaging energy facilities.

More lessons on spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact duration of the power outage
  • Cost of repairs and equipment replacement
  • Model and age of damaged substation equipment

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

abc11.com

Other entries that name Duke

Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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