North Carolina’s electric cooperatives continue to make progress restoring power following this weekend’s winter weather, with a total of about 24,000 outages remaining as of 6:15 a.m. Electric co-ops serving parts of western and central North Carolina are reporting the highest number of outages, particularly in Haywood, Randolph, Transylvania and Rutherford counties.

Co-op crews continue to work as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to all cooperative members. Support crews from electric cooperatives in areas of North Carolina that were not affected by the storm, as well as from out of state, have joined the restoration efforts in highly impacted regions.

Another round of precipitation is forecast for central and western North Carolina this morning, which may result in additional power outages. Electric cooperative members are asked to report any new power outages or dangerous situations caused by the storm to their local electric cooperative.

Updated statewide co-op outage numbers can be accessed anytime via our Live Outage Map.

Safety:

• Never go near a downed or sagging power line. Do not attempt to remove debris from power lines, as the lines could still be energized and very dangerous. Always assume power lines are energized. Report fallen or damaged lines to your co-op or utility provider immediately.
• Stay off the roads if possible, and if you must drive, use extreme caution. If you see electric utility crews working on the side of the road, slow down and leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the workers.
• Only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated outdoor 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.
• If using Sterno or charcoal to cook food, always to do so outside in a well-ventilated area. Cooking indoors with Sterno or charcoal will produce deadly carbon-monoxide fumes.

Stay tuned to Facebook and Twitter or connect with your local electric cooperative for the latest updates and safety tips.