Last Updated on August 8, 2023 4:25 pm
Lenoir, North Carolina (August 8, 2023) – Blue Ridge Energy line technicians restored power after a severe summer storm late Monday afternoon brought down trees and damaged power lines, causing outages for over 400 members.
Caldwell District, where 32 locations on the electric system were damaged across the county, was most severely affected. Line technicians worked from 4 pm Monday to 6:30 am Tuesday to make repairs before all power was restored for 289 members.
In Watauga District, 80 members were affected by six damaged locations in the Watauga River, Boone, Blowing Rock and Sherwood areas. Outages began at 2:42 pm Monday and as of Tuesday morning, 4 members remained without power as line technicians continued working.
In Ashe District, 42 members were impacted by seven damaged locations in Creston, Shatley Springs, Beaver Creek and Baldwin. Outages began at 2:42 pm Monday, with restoration complete by 12:39 am Tuesday.
Alleghany District had a single damaged location in Sparta with one member without power from 6:02 pm until 6:52 pm Monday.
Blue Ridge Energy reminds members to report all outages by calling PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, by using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app, or, if signed up for outage texting members can report outages by text (for more information on outage texting, visit: www.blueridgeenergy.com/resources/electric-outage-texting). Outage status is available 24/7 on the cooperative’s live outage map at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com and on the mobile app.
The cooperative reminds the public to stay far away from downed power lines as they can still be energized and therefore dangerous, even deadly! Report downed power lines by calling 1-800-451-5474. Only a trained line technician should ever go near a downed power line.
The cooperative also reminds members that if you or someone you know depends on medical equipment powered by electricity: always have a secondary plan in case storm damage to the electric system is severe enough to require extended time for repairs in order to restore power.
Blue Ridge Energy serves some 78,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany counties as well as parts of Avery, Alexander and Wilkes counties. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com or on the cooperative’s social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
