Power outages in Cary: who to call and outage maps

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Cary’s Ready Cary emergency contacts and Duke Energy. Check your power bill to see which company serves your address.

The Town of Cary does not run an electric system. For power outages, the town’s emergency contacts list Duke Energy Progress and Apex Electric, run by the neighboring Town of Apex, according to its Ready Cary page. Your bill shows which one serves you.

Who to call

• Duke Energy Progress: text OUT to 57801, report online at duke-energy.com/outages, or call 800-419-6356
• Apex Electric customers: 919-372-7475
• Downed power line: 911
• Trees or high water in the street, water main breaks, sewer spills: Cary 311 or 919-469-4000
• Spectrum: 866-489-2669; AT&T: 800-288-2020

Report an outage

1. Check the map first. Duke’s outage map shows current outages and estimated restoration times.
2. Report it. Text OUT to 57801, report online or call 800-419-6356, the number the town lists for Duke Energy Progress. Apex Electric customers call 919-372-7475.
3. Stay away from downed lines. Call 911. Duke says to assume every downed line is energized.

Streetlights out? The town points residents to Duke’s streetlight repair request.

How Duke restores power

After a storm, Duke Energy says it works to return power to the greatest number of customers as safely and quickly as possible, putting public health and safety facilities first, according to its restoration page. The usual order:

1. Transmission lines from the power plants to substations
2. Substations, which step the voltage down for local lines
3. Main distribution lines that serve the most customers
4. Tap lines, transformers and service lines that feed individual streets and homes

That is why one street, or one house, can stay dark after the neighborhood comes back. Duke says different parts of a neighborhood may be on different circuits.

Get alerts

The town sends emergency alerts by phone, text and email through ReadyWake, Wake County’s alert system, for residents in both the Wake and Chatham parts of Cary. Register at readywake.com. Questions about the system go to Wake County Emergency Management, 919-856-6480. In bad weather, the town asks people to keep 911 for threats to life and property and use 311 for everything else.

Generators and safety

• Run a generator outside the house and plug appliances into it directly. Never wire it into your breaker box; Duke says it can backfeed the lines and injure crews.
• Stay out of flooded areas and debris, which can hide downed lines.
• Do not drive around to look at damage; it can slow restoration work.

Other numbers the town lists

What this means for you

• Save 800-419-6356 and the text number 57801 in your phone before winter storms.
• Check your bill: Duke and Apex Electric customers report outages to different numbers.
• Sign up for ReadyWake so town alerts reach you when the power is out.

More: who to call at Cary Town Hall and road closures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a power outage in Cary?

Duke Energy Progress customers can text OUT to 57801, report online at duke-energy.com/outages or call 800-419-6356. The town lists Apex Electric’s number, 919-372-7475, for Apex Electric customers.

Who provides electricity in Cary?

The Town of Cary does not sell electricity. Its emergency contacts list Duke Energy Progress and Apex Electric for power outages. Your bill shows which one serves you.

Who do I call about a downed power line in Cary?

Call 911 for a downed line. For trees down in the street, high water or a water main or sewer problem, call Cary 311 or 919-469-4000.

How do I report a broken streetlight in Cary?

The town lists Duke Energy’s streetlight repair request, online or at 800-419-6356, for streetlight repairs and outages.