Blue Ridge Energy Is Ready to Respond If Winter Storm Causes Outages

LENOIR, NC (January 2, 2022) — Blue Ridge Energy is prepared and ready to respond should the winter storm predicted tonight and Monday lead to power outages in the cooperative’s service area of Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and portions of Avery, Wilkes and Alexander counties.

Current predictions are for heavy snowfall to occur primarily in the mountainous portion of the cooperative’s service area. A winter storm warning is currently in effect from 10 P.M. this evening through 12 P.M. Monday for the higher elevations of northwest North Carolina, with up to three inches of snow and gusts to 45 mph possible. Wet snow could pose problems for power lines and lead to power outages. Blue Ridge Energy line technicians and all staff are on high alert to respond to potential outages overnight and Monday.

Blue Ridge Energy members are advised to be prepared with the cooperative’s outage reporting options and tips below:

Outages may be reported the following ways:

• Call 1-800-448-2383
• By using the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app
• By text when signed up for outage texting (to sign up: be sure your mobile number is listed on your account, then text START to 70216. Then, you can text OUT to 70216 anytime you have an outage)

For outage status at any time:

• View the cooperative’s online outage map at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com or on our mobile app.

The cooperative recommends having the following on hand to stay safe and comfortable in the event of outages:

• Flashlights with extra batteries
• NOAA Weather Radio (or, sign up for notifications from emergency and weather services on your smart phone or table)
• Keep cell phones charged and have fully charged battery backups
• Extra water for drinking and cooking
• Nonperishable food items
• First aid kit, including prescription medications

Blue Ridge Energy posts information during major outages on its social media channels: www.facebook.com/blueridgeenergy; www.instagram.com/blueridgeenergy and www.twitter.com/blueridgeemc.  However, outage reporting is only available using one of the three options above (phone, mobile app or text) to ensure outages are immediately and accurately logged into the cooperative’s outage reporting and management system.

Blue Ridge Electric serves some 78,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and parts of Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties. Its propane and fuels subsidiary serves customers in the cooperative’s service area as well as Burke, Catawba, and Grayson County, Va. Learn more at www.BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

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