Last Updated on October 10, 2024 1:13 pm
MEC wants everyone to know, we have plenty of materials (including poles) to work with and trucks are arriving daily. We ask that you drive carefully in our work zones so workers stay safe and do their jobs efficiently. Please don’t stop to report your outage, this only holds up progress they are trying to make to get your power back on.
We are still working the same schedule of 15 hour days and are making progress. We will continue this schedule through the weekend also.
Status for Mtn City service area:
We currently have an estimated 1,100 members out of power. We made significant progress yesterday by energizing the 3 phase lines that serves the Trade community. This was ahead of schedule and we are really happy to make this large step in the right direction.
General Area Crews Working: Forge Creek, Neva (including Locust Gap, Gate Hollow, Preserve Way and Sugar Hollow) Butler (Sink Valley and Grindstaff Rd, Hwy 321) Doe (K & R Road area), W Holy Hill and Trade area.
General Area Tree Crews Working: Tree crews are working in Gate Hollow, Harmon Rd, Sage Valley Circle, Black Branch and Trade areas today.
There are portions of Poga, Heaton Branch, and Walnut Mountain areas that are not accessible at this time. Roads and Electrical infrastructure have been washed out in several areas.
Status of Newland and Roan Mtn:
We currently have 3,700 members out of power in Newland and 300 members in Roan Mountain. We ask that you have patience with us. We have several side roads and taps that will need an excavator or setting poles by hand to complete the job. This takes longer to do, but we are working as quickly as we can to reach you.
There are 5 crews working on the line construction on Hwy 105 that will energize the 3 phase lines in Linville area. The NCDOT will block one lane and use flaggers and a pilot truck. Please be patient with all construction workers, as well as our employees.
If your power is on and goes back off, there are many instances we have to temporarily turn the power back off to energize surrounding lines. Also, we are experiencing a lot of outages because of people trying to help cut trees.
We are getting lots of questions why underground utilities have not been restored yet. Please understand we have lots of junctions, transformers and wires that have been washed away and will take extended amounts of time to make these repairs. Even if you have underground lines serving your home, there may be an overhead line serving the underground transformer that has not been repaired yet.
General area crews are working in Newland—Crews are working in Altamont, Old Beech Mtn, Banner Elk, and Beech Mtn.
General area crews are working in Roan Mtn—Crews are working in Tiger Creek, Buck Mtn toward the NC line, and Ingram Branch.
If you have a medical need (oxygen, dialysis or other medical conditions), please find a local emergency shelter. The electricity and the essential needs are being supplied at these shelters.
I am out of the office surveying damages to our system most of the time. Please call your local office first and see if they can assist you before leaving me a message. I know there are several members without electricity still and can assure you all the MEC crews and contractors are working. These individuals have worked 15 hours (or more) daily for 14 days straight and will continue to do so.
We are getting reports that wire is being stolen in certain communities which is holding up progress. If you see someone stealing wire, please get their tag number and report it to the police.
I would also like to give a heartfelt “thank you” to all our communities in MEC service area. MEC appreciates the meals, food donations and prayers going up for us as we continue to restore power to all our members.
Rodney Metcalf, General Manager
Mountain Electric Cooperative
C: 423.727.1810
Fax: 423.727.1822
rmetcalf@mountainelectric.com
