Power Outage Knocks Out Traffic Lights Along Greenville's Pelham Road

Traffic lights went dark at the intersection of Pelham Road and The Parkway on Monday morning after a power outage swept through parts of Greenville County, leaving drivers to navigate one of the area's busiest crossings without signals. Duke Energy reported the outage affected customers as of 11:30 a.m., with restoration expected by 12:45 p.m., according to the utility's website.

The outage knocked out power to about 1,600 customers along Pelham Road and surrounding areas near Interstate 85, as WYFF Greenville reported. The outage affected traffic and businesses along the corridor, and the Duke Energy website said it was caused by an object coming into contact with power lines. WYFF reported that Duke Energy updated its website.

A Dangerous Intersection Without Signals

Pelham Road and The Parkway is a busy intersection, and losing power there is more than an inconvenience. Under South Carolina law, drivers approaching a dark or malfunctioning traffic signal are required to treat the intersection as a four-way stop, according to guidance from the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Failing to stop at an inoperative signal in South Carolina carries a maximum fine of $100 plus court assessments and adds four demerit points to a driver's record, per Driving Laws. The violation adds four demerit points to a driver's record. The junction is near Interstate 85, adding to the need for caution.

Recent History of Outages on the Corridor

This is not the first time Pelham Road has seen its power and traffic signals disrupted. On June 4, 2026, an oversized-load semi-truck took down power lines along Pelham Road, causing traffic impacts and leaving businesses without power, according to WYFF's earlier reporting. That incident showed how vulnerable the corridor can be to both equipment failures and physical damage from heavy vehicles.

The risk of widespread confusion at dark signals is not hypothetical in Greenville. After Hurricane Helene in September 2024 knocked out all 207 traffic signals across the City of Greenville, police recorded 39 roadway collisions over three days that officials attributed mainly to confusion at unlit intersections, according to the Greenville Journal. Police at the time said the crash spike stemmed largely from motorists failing to stop before proceeding through dark signals.

Why Pelham Road Carries Outsized Stakes

Duke Energy Carolinas serves customers in Greenville County. Countywide, residents experience an average of 1.23 power outages per year, with each interruption lasting about 150 minutes on average, FindEnergy's performance metrics show.

Pelham Road itself is a roadway in Greenville County. The corridor carries commuter and commercial traffic. The corridor has experienced rapid commercial growth and heavy traffic volume.

Duke Energy operates the local electric grid across Greenville County. Monday's outage disrupted a key Eastside intersection. As of Monday, Duke Energy's website listed the cause as an object coming into contact with power lines, and the utility's projected restoration time was 12:45 p.m.