Breaking News: Duke Energy Fined $16K for Serious Violation Following Fatal Electrocution
February 18 , 2025Charlotte, North Carolina — February 17, 2025 — According to WBTV, Duke Energy has been slapped with a maximum fine of $16,131 following a fatal electrocution incident that claimed the life of one of its employees last year, according to the North Carolina Department of Labor.
On August 14, 2024, a Duke Energy lineman lost his life while working on Wandering Creek Drive in a northwest Charlotte neighborhood. The tragedy unfolded around 2:35 p.m., when the worker, engaged in making secondary electrical connections on an energized 120-volt Z bar, came into contact with the top Z bar and was electrocuted on site. Although Duke Energy initially provided few details about the incident, the company confirmed it was investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
In the aftermath, state officials conducted a series of inspections between August 2024 and January 2025. Their investigation revealed that employees had been using 11-inch low voltage electrical gloves that failed to protect the wrist and forearm, a deficiency that increased the risk of overreaching. The department recommended switching to the 14-inch rubber high voltage gloves mandated for tasks involving service line connections on pad-mounted and pole-mounted transformers.
On February 4, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Labor officially cited Duke Energy for exposing workers to an electrical hazard, issuing the serious violation along with the $16,131 fine. The company was given 15 days to either settle the fine or contest the penalty. A department spokesperson stressed that these penalties are not meant to compensate for the loss of life; rather, collected fines are funneled into the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund, which benefits the public school system.
Following the incident, Duke Energy expressed its sorrow, stating, “Our hearts go out to our teammate’s family and fellow coworkers.”
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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
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