To report an outage, call
1-800-448-2383
Help Arrives as Blue Ridge Energy Works to Restore Power After Catastrophic Damage from Helene: 24/7 Multi-Day Restoration Effort Underway
Helene left catastrophic damage in its wake such as this view from Ashe County
Line crews will work 24/7 for days on outage restoration efforts with some damaged parts of the electric system not accessible until flooding subsides. Photo credit: John Blevins and Allen Graham.
Blue Ridge Energy line technicians worked overnight and continue Saturday battling flooding, mudslides, downed trees and hundreds of broken power poles and downed lines to restore power to the more than 57,000 members in the dark.
The cooperative advises members to be prepared that full restoration will be a multi-day effort due to extensive damage and inaccessible locations. Dozens of workers from sister cooperatives and right of way tree and grading contractors have arrived to assist Blue Ridge Energy.
Power restoration to 7,700 members in southern Caldwell County depends upon Duke Energy energizing their transmission delivery point in that location and no estimated time has been given by Duke.
“The damage from this storm and resulting public emergency is of historic proportions for all of western North Carolina,” said Renee Walker, director of public relations for Blue Ridge Energy. “Line technicians, visiting crews, and all employees are working in every capacity to restore power for our members as quickly and safely as possible in very dangerous situations.”
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 ensure 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.
Also be aware of 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 and to be aware they 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, X and Instagram.
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