Flooding Causes Equipment Loss at Substation, Precautions Taken

LENOIR, NC (June 10, 2019) — During post-flood inspections Sunday, a Blue Ridge Energy employee discovered that record-high waters had reached its Lenoir substation, causing three transformers to tip over due to flood waters washing out the bases underneath the equipment.

As standard procedure as well as safety precautions, cooperative employees immediately contacted STAT, Inc., its environmental spill contractor, due to mineral oil leaking from the displaced equipment. STAT has been onsite since Sunday to clean and monitor conditions in and around the substation and will continue to do so until all traces of the mineral oil are removed.

Blue Ridge Energy employees are trained and prepared to take every precaution in the event equipment is disturbed under its Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan. The plan includes utilizing STAT, Inc., which is available to the cooperative at all times for professional monitoring and management services.

Blue Ridge Energy is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 76,000 consumers in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Alexander and Avery counties.