Raleigh, N.C. – Electric cooperative line crews have worked diligently today to restore power to cooperative members in coastal communities that lost power as a result of Hurricane Arthur. Outage numbers continue to fall, and now total 6,300, down from a peak of 23,000.
Line crews from the hardest-hit electric cooperatives are joined by additional workers from electric cooperatives across the state. In total there are more than 200 electric cooperative line workers and contractors working to restore the remaining outages as quickly as possible. The deployment of crews is part of a mutual-aid agreement shared between the nation’s nearly 1,000 electric cooperatives to help one another in times of emergency.
Additionally, Tideland EMC in Pantego and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation are working to energize stand-alone diesel generation on hard-hit Ocracoke Island while permanent restoration is being completed. Tideland EMC is estimating restoration of service by late Sunday evening.
Electric cooperative officials would like to thank members for their patience as line crews work hard to restore outages on this busy holiday weekend. We would also like to remind members of two important safety tips. If you are using a portable generator, be sure the generator is located outside your house for proper ventilation, and remember to never touch a downed power line. Treat all power lines as if they are energized and dangerous.
A list of outage reporting numbers for each of North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives can be found at http://ncelectriccooperatives.com/storm/outages.htm
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives serve approximately 2.5 million people in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.