To report an outage, call
1-800-448-2383
Blue Ridge Energy Crews Make Progress in Devastating Conditions: 24/7 Multi-Day Restoration Effort Underway
Blue Ridge Energy is building our own roads where possible to reach damaged locations washed out by flooding.
Crews are working 24/7 with the help of visiting line crews and right of way contractors.
The cooperative advises members power restoration will be a multi-day effort due to extensive storm damage and inaccessible locations blocked by flooding, washed away roads and hundreds of fallen trees.
Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and visiting crews are working to restore power in catastrophic conditions caused by Hurricane Helene that left some of the worst damage for the cooperative and all of western North Carolina.
As of 2 pm Saturday, over 53,000 members – 67% of the cooperative’s membership—are still without power. Visiting line crews, in addition to right of way tree contractors and grading contractors are working with Blue Ridge Energy to clear downed trees to reach all assessable damaged locations. The cooperative thanks the following for assistance: cooperatives from Halifax EMC, Tri-County EMC, Wake EMC, South River EMC, Roanoke Cooperative, and Four County EMC, as well as tree contracts with Foothills Tree, Lucas Tree Experts, Xylem Tree, and Kendall Vegetation and Treeline Helicopter.
Crews continue working while damage assessments are underway with the help of helicopters and drones to view areas of the electric system that are blocked by washed out roads, flooding and hundreds of downed trees. Currently affected are: Watauga district: 19,130 members; Caldwell district: 14,157; Ashe district: 13,416; Alleghany district: 4,214 as well as 2,160 members in Wilkes County, 457 in Avery County and 172 in Alexander County.
The cooperative advises members to be prepared that power restoration will be a muti-day effort due to extensive damage and inaccessible locations.
“We know it’s frustrating for members without power and crews are working around the clock as fast and as safely as possible in very dangerous conditions” said Renee Walker, director of public relations for Blue Ridge Energy. “We will continue working in full force, 24/7, until power is restored.”
Safety is paramount, for both line technicians and the public. Blue Ridge Energy warns members using generators to remember the following:
- Never use a generator inside your home or garage. Install a carbon monoxide detector for added safety.
- Never connect it to your home’s electrical system. It can “backfeed” and potentially harm or kill line technicians working on power lines.
- Always let a generator cool down before refueling.
- Keep generators away from water.
- Attach a ground wire to the generator to assure proper grounding and avoid electrocution. The only safe way to connect a portable generator to your home’s wiring is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch.
Be aware that downed power lines can still be energized, and therefore dangerous or even deadly! The cooperative warns the public to stay far away from downed lines, which can be hidden underneath downed trees, water and other affected structures. Only a trained line technician should ever go near a downed power line. Blue Ridge Energy is assessing damage and members can also report downed lines by calling 1-800-451-5474.
While Blue Ridge Energy is aware of outages and system operators are monitoring conditions, members should only report outages by calling PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, by using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app, or, by texting OUT to 70216. Outage reports cannot be accepted over social media. Outage status is available 24/7 on the cooperative’s live outage map at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com and on the mobile app.
Blue Ridge Energy serves some 80,000 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.
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