Blue Ridge Electric Experiencing Outages in Alleghany County
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Corporate Communications, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383 ext. 3213; Pager:1-800-471-1323; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (4:30 p.m. February 27, 2003) – Alleghany County linemen for Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are currently on the scene restoring power to 354 people in the northeast section of the county whose power was affected by the ice.
Outages began occurring at 3:40 p.m. in the communities of Edmonds, Ennice, Blevins Crossroads and Edwards Crossroads. Earlier in the day, 12 people were without power from 12:36 p.m. until 1:46 p.m. due to a fallen tree on a power line.
Blue Ridge has sent eight of its linemen to assist sister cooperative Surry-Yakin Electric Membership Corporation, which has been harder hit with outages as a result of today’s ice.
Blue Ridge Electric crews have been alert since Wednesday due to weather predictions for icing in its service territory of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes and Alexander counties. The cooperative continues to be on alert for any outages that may result from falling tree branches or ice accumulation on power lines.
If members experience outages, please call the cooperative’s automated outage reporting system, called Powerline, at 1-800-448-2383.
Although power lines are built to withstand a significant amount of ice buildup, tree limbs are more vulnerable. Ice-laden tree limbs often cause outages as they come in contact with power lines. Vehicles sliding and hitting power poles can also affect power reliability during inclement weather.
Blue Ridge Electric reminds customers to stay away from all downed power lines. Even if a line is not sparking, it can be energized and deadly. If you see a downed line, STAY AWAY, and call any local Blue Ridge Electric office or 911. Local office telephone numbers for the cooperative are: Caldwell: 754-9071; Watauga: 264-8894; West Jefferson: 246-7138; Sparta: 372-4646; and Wilkesboro: 838-4655.
Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative affiliated with Touchstone Energy. Its subsidiary, Blue Ridge Energies, provides propane and heating fuels from offices in Lenoir, Hickory, Boone, West Jefferson and Sparta.
