RALEIGH, N.C., April 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Carolina's electric cooperatives continue to make progress with restoration efforts in areas hit hard by yesterday's severe weather. Outages, which occurred as a result of high winds blowing down trees and power lines, are currently down to approximately 15,000. At yesterday's peak, the electric cooperatives' total outages neared 100,000, and this morning the cooperatives collectively experienced about 32,000 outages.
The majority of the outages, including many of those that remain, were caused by issues with high-voltage transmission lines. Electric cooperative personnel are working closely with neighboring utilities to resolve these issues.
Electric cooperative line crews in the most affected areas, south central North Carolina, are relying on assistance from cooperative line crews from less affected areas of the state. These crews are working hard to make sure all of North Carolina's electric cooperative members have power restored quickly.
If you see a downed power line or pole, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Call your local electric cooperative or 911 immediately. You can find contact information for your electric cooperative at www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/storm/outages.htm.
North Carolina's electric cooperatives provide energy to 2.5 million people in 93 of the state's 100 counties, primarily in rural parts of the state. The electric cooperatives own and maintain 95,000 miles of power lines.
SOURCENorth Carolina's electric cooperatives
