Residents of a Holly Springs neighborhood are seeking answers and compensation from Duke Energy after a power surge in June damaged appliances and electrical systems in at least 30 homes. The surge occurred when power was restored to the Climbing Tree Trail area after an outage.
Witnesses reported alarming sounds resembling gunfire as numerous appliances malfunctioned. Damage included garage door openers, refrigerators, and electrical panels. Residents heard from a Duke Energy employee that a lineman inadvertently re-energized a line after a tree fell, causing the surge; however, this account hasn’t been independently verified.
Despite Duke Energy’s policy of reimbursing losses when it’s at fault, many claims were denied, as the utility argued the root cause of the outage—a fallen tree—was outside their control. This led to frustration among homeowners who had assumed the company would take responsibility.
Some residents, like Kristen Merson, reached out to consumer advocacy channels for help in navigating the claims process, noting that it has been a slow and painful experience as they continue to search for both reimbursement and clear explanations from Duke Energy.
