Electric Co-Ops Cut Outages to 21,000

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolina's electric cooperatives continue to make great strides restoring power in areas hit hard by Hurricane Matthew's wind, rain and subsequent flooding.

Outages:
As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, North Carolina's electric cooperatives report about 21,000 power outages, down from a peak of 270,000 on Sunday. Since Hurricane Matthew hit, co-op crews have restored power to well over 250,000 members. Close to 280 workers from western North Carolina and surrounding states remain in the field assisting local co-op line-workers to help speed restoration efforts - a display of the resiliency of the electric cooperative network. In areas where restoration points are inaccessible due to flooding or damaged roadways, or where damage to power poles and power lines is severe, that effort may last days. Work will continue until powered is restored to all.

Safety:

• Never wade into, or drive through, flood water.
• Only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated areas; a garage does not count as a well-ventilated area.
• Never connect a generator directly to a home's wiring. Instead, use an extension cord to plug lights and appliances into the generator.
• Never touch a downed power line, and remember that sometimes debris can cover fallen lines, making them difficult to spot.
• Stay far away from downed or sagging powerlines. Always assume that a powerline is energized and potentially deadly.
• Help keep our crews safe. If you see utility crews working on the side of the road, slow down and drive carefully.

Thank you to our members:
We thank cooperative members for their patience and many kind words as crews and co-op staff have worked tirelessly and diligently to rebuild after the storm and historic flooding. Restoring power quickly and safely is the electric cooperatives' priority. We will continue working – around the clock – to bring the lights back on for all members. The cooperatives are proud to serve members and local communities, and we appreciate your support.

North Carolina's 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state's 100 counties. Six electric cooperatives serve 16 North Carolina beaches, and many more serve hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in other parts of eastern North Carolina.

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SOURCE North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives