NC Electric Cooperatives Restore Power to 76,000

Co-ops have hit the halfway point, coming down from a peak of 152,000 outages after Hurricane Irene

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolina's electric cooperatives have restored power to more than half of the 152,000 members who experienced outages as a result of Hurricane Irene. About 76,000 households are still without electricity.

Cooperative crews will continue to work diligently to get the lights back on, but impassible roadways and flooding have hampered restoration efforts in the most severely damaged areas. The N.C. Department of Transportation is reporting significant road closures throughout eastern North Carolina due to downed trees and power lines.

Consumers are reminded that fallen lines can be energized and deadly. Some inland counties have seen as much as 10-15 inches of rain, and flooding is a major concern throughout the region. Water is a strong conductor of electricity so stay away from flooded or wet areas for your own safety. Remember that lines covered by water and downed trees are difficult to see.  Do not attempt to cut trees near power lines.

North Carolina's electric cooperatives serve more than 2.5 million people in 93 of the state's 100 counties, primarily in rural parts of the state.

SOURCE North Carolina's electric cooperatives