Electric cooperative power restoration teams comprised of line workers, tree trimmers and safety specialists, have worked tirelessly since Hurricane Dorian traveled the length of North Carolina’s coast, leaving thousands of outages in its wake. Currently, fewer than 4,500 cooperative members are without power, down from a peak of about 94,000 on Friday morning.

The remaining outages are primarily in hard-hit Hyde, Beaufort and Dare counties. Crews will continue their efforts until power is restored to all cooperative members whose homes can receive electric service. Real-time outage numbers and locations are available 24/7 on the cooperatives’ statewide outage map.

The sun rises on Hatteras Island as cooperative line crews begin tackling 200 remaining scattered outages across the island.

As crews complete their final efforts, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives continue to stress the following safety tips:

• In homes that flooded and had water reach the electric meter, electric service cannot be restored until inspections are complete and approvals are granted.
• Help keep our crews safe. If you see utility crews working on the side of the road, slow down and drive carefully.
• Only use generators and charcoal grills in well-ventilated outdoor areas; a garage does not count as a well-ventilated area. Never connect a portable generator directly to a home’s wiring. Instead, use an extension cord to plug lights and appliances into the generator.

We thank cooperative members for their patience and many kind words as crews and co-op staff have worked to repair damage and restore service after Hurricane Dorian.

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives collectively serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties. For more information, visit ncelectriccooperatives.com.

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