Progress Being Made on Power Restoration

5 p.m. Update: Watauga: 5,100; Ashe: 960

Lenoir, North Carolina (December 27, 2009-5 p.m. update) - Power was restored today to several thousand members of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and line technicians continue work this evening in Watauga and Ashe Counties where the Christmas Day ice storm caused massive devastation.

As of 5 p.m., 5,100 members in Watauga County and 960 members in Ashe County remain without power.

Restoration efforts have been extensive due to the number of fallen trees tearing down the electric system and in some instances becoming entangled with power lines and breaking poles. At least 50 broken poles have been located and are being replaced, many by hand on mountainsides and other remote locations. Reaching and repairing lines and poles in mountainous terrain in the remaining snow and icy conditions also takes longer than repairing parts of the system more easily accessible.

"The things that make our mountain districts beautiful-the many trees, hillsides and rough terrain-also make it more difficult to restore power after a weather event like we've just experienced that has torn down so much of the system," said Renee Whitener, director of public relations. "Major and back roads have also been blocked, and we've brought in bulldozers to help clear the way.

"We had a large number of crews respond to our request for help and they are staying organized and working long hours to keep the public safe as well as for their own safety," she continued. "We couldn't ask for a more qualified, hard working group of line technicians who are dedicated to getting power restored as quickly as possible for our members," she added.

Due to the extent of damage, Blue Ridge officials are predicting it will be Tuesday before complete power restoration is achieved. Line crews will continue to begin work at daybreak and continue as long as possible into the evening hours. Member services will also continue to staff telephone lines. Members can report outages over the cooperative's Powerline at 1-800-448-2383. Call volume is heavy so the cooperative asks that members be patient when calling.

The cooperative reminds the public that downed lines can still be energized and therefore dangerous or even deadly. Stay far away from downed lines and report them by calling Blue Ridge Electric at 1-800-451-5474.

Assisting Blue Ridge Electric are sister cooperatives Piedmont, EnergyUnited, Union Power, Pee Dee, Lumbee River, and Central EMC, Blue Ridge Energies and crews from Pike Corporation, Carter Utility Services and Asplundh Tree Expert Company.

Members can view outage updates at any time by visiting www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and clicking on the "outage map" link. Outage updates and other information are also available on the web site as well as on Blue Ridge Electric's Facebook page. Blue Ridge Electric serves some 73,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties.