Duke Energy to begin structure inspections on Lake Norman's west shore 

Duke Energy to begin structure inspections on Lake Norman's west shore

Feb 24, 2013 (Menafn - The Charlotte Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Duke Energy workers will begin inspecting the western shoreline of Lake Norman in early March in search of unsafe structures and abandoned boats that may pose a public safety or navigation threat.

Owners of identified structures will be notified and given time to respond with a renovation/removal plan, spokeswoman Lisa Hoffmann said.

The inspections, which will focus on the Lincoln and Catawba County side of the lake, are part of Duke Energy's Structure Renovation/Removal Program.

The program began in 1996 to survey, identify, and correct problem structures on lakes managed by Duke Energy Carolinas. Lake Norman inspections and renovations in Iredell and Mecklenburg counties are complete.

"Program results thus far show that about five percent of the piers on Duke Energy's lakes are in need of major repair," Joe Hall, director of Duke Energy's lake services, said.

Inspection crews look for signs of obvious neglect such as missing planks, inadequate flotation or structural failure.

If owners do not make necessary repairs in the designated time period, Duke Energy plans to remove the problem structures at the owner's expense. Also, the company will not consider new requests from that owner for lake use permitting activities, Hoffmann said.

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