CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- North Carolina-based Duke is facing water supply shortages.

Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK) engineers at the McGuire nuclear power plant on Lake Norman, N.C., need the water level in the lake to be above a certain point in order for the plant's backup safety systems to work but the recent drought is causing problems.

With no end in sight, the company has had to redesign and replace the backup safety system to be able to operate at a lower lake level.

Without having the system operational, the company could be forced to temporarily shut down the plant, according to its operating license with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The plant provides nearly 2,200 megawatts, and shutting down would mean extreme strain on Duke’s other capacity.