Last Updated on November 25, 2018 8:10 am
Lenoir, North Carolina (7:30 am November 25, 2018—OUTAGE UPDATE) – Blue Ridge Energy will have all power restored by 5 pm today after early Saturday morning ice brought down many trees, especially in Caldwell County where the majority of system damage was sustained.
Crews from across the Blue Ridge Energy system as well as visiting line technicians and tree contractors are working to restore the final 375 members in Caldwell County and 21 members in Wilkes County who remain without power Sunday morning.
Outages were extended due to the wide-spread damage to power lines and poles from fallen trees and limbs during Saturday’s ice. Most of the damage occurred in Caldwell County, primarily in the following areas: Zacks Fork Road, Patterson, Ferguson and Abingdon Road.
Outages from Saturday’s icy weather began at 2:21 am Saturday and the height of the outages occurred at 6 am Saturday when 5,378 members were without power.
Blue Ridge Energy thanks assisting personnel from sister cooperatives Energy United, Union Power and Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation and contractors: Sumter Utilities, Inc. and Asplundh Tree Expert Co. The cooperative reminds members to report all outages by calling 1-800-448-2383 or by using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app.
Blue Ridge Energy advises the public to stay far away from downed power lines as they can still be energized and therefore deadly! Please report them by calling 1-800-451-5474 or 911 immediately. Only a trained line technician working with the cooperative should go near a downed power line.
