Blue Ridge Energy line technicians battle severe summer storm outages

Aug. 8—LENOIR — Blue Ridge Energy line technicians restored power after a severe summer storm late Monday afternoon brought down trees and damaged power lines, causing outages for over 400 customers.

Caldwell District, where 32 locations on the electric system were damaged across the county, was most severely affected. Line technicians worked from 4 p.m. Monday to 6:30 a.m. Tuesday to make repairs before all power was restored for 289 customers.

In Watauga District, 80 customers were affected by six damaged locations in the Watauga River, Boone, Blowing Rock and Sherwood areas. Outages began at 2:42 p.m. Monday and as of Tuesday morning, four customers remained without power as line technicians continued working.

Blue Ridge Energy customers can report electric outages by calling PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, by using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile application, or if signed up for outage texting, members can report outages by text.

For more information on outage texting, visit www.blue ridgeenergy.com/resources/electric-outage-texting.

Outage status is available on the cooperative's live outage map at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com and on the mobile app.

Company officials urge the public to stay away from downed power lines since they can remain energized and dangerous, even deadly. Report downed power lines by calling 1-800-451-5474. Only a trained line technician should go near a downed power line, officials said.

If customers depend on medical equipment powered by electricity, a secondary plan should be in place in case storm damage to the electric system is severe enough to require extended time for repairs in order to restore power.

Blue Ridge Energy serves some 78,000 customers 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.