Blue Ridge Electric: Outages Increase at Noon

Lenoir, North Carolina (February 5, 2010-Noon Update) - As weather has become icier and temperatures have fallen slightly this morning, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is reporting increased outages at noon today. Currently, line technicians are on the scene restoring power to 264 members.

The majority of outages are in Caldwell County, where 236 members are affected by the winter storm that so far as left heavy, wet snow on power lines. In Wilkes County, 17 members are without power while 11 members in Watauga County are affected.

Officials at the cooperative are most concerned about the potential for ice accumulation, especially along Blue Ridge Parkway. Ice and snow accumulation is predicted through Saturday and cooperative employees remain on high alert to respond quickly should further power restoration efforts be needed. Additional crews are on standby, ready to assist the cooperative if outages become numerous.

Blue Ridge Electric members should report outages by calling the cooperative's Powerline at 1-800-448-2383. To view a live outage map, visit www.BlueRidgeEMC.com and click on the "outage map" link located on the bottom right hand side of the screen.

More safety and preparation information is 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.