ENERGYUNITED CREWS CONTEND WITH SEVERE ROAD CONDITIONS

As Winter Storm Fern is blanketing the Carolinas with sleet and freezing rain, EnergyUnited crews will face increasingly difficult conditions this evening. Deteriorating road conditions and a large band of precipitation across the cooperative’s service territory will impact travel and access in many areas, creating challenges for line crews working to assess damage and restore power safely, efficiently and as quickly as possible.

Earlier this afternoon, freezing rain from Winter Storm Fern had not produced significant power outages; however, as ice continues to accumulate on trees and power lines, conditions may change, and outages could increase.

“With treacherous roads and the constant threat of falling trees and power lines, safety remains our highest concern for our employees and members,” said Steve McCachern, vice president of energy delivery at EnergyUnited. “Crews are carefully assessing conditions and taking every precaution to restore power safely while minimizing risks to themselves and the public.”

The cooperative currently has 265 field employees — including EnergyUnited personnel, contractors, and mutual aid — along with 130 support employees actively working to assess damage and begin restoration efforts safely and efficiently.

Safety Is the Top Priority

• Outage Reporting & Updates: Members can report outages through My EnergyHub or by calling 1-800-EUNITED (1-800-386-4833). They can also visit www.energyunited.com to view the outage map, track restoration progress in real time, and find the latest storm updates and safety information.
• Road Conditions: Roads are slick and travel conditions are expected to worsen quickly this evening. Avoid travel unless necessary, remain alert for falling tree limbs and ice accumulation and keep flashlights, batteries, and emergency supplies accessible.
• Downed Power Lines: Always assume downed power lines are energized and dangerous. Stay far away and report them immediately to EnergyUnited and local emergency services.
• Frigid Temperatures: Cold temperatures early next week may prompt emergency alerts. Members should monitor local weather updates closely.
• Generator Safety: Members using generators should operate them outdoors and well away from buildings. Never use a generator indoors, in garages or near windows or doors. Battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are strongly recommended to prevent serious or potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

About EnergyUnited  

EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina with 144,615 member connections. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of 19 counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. Visit energyunited.com to view storm preparedness tips, to access our outage map with real-time updates and to find the latest information on restoration efforts.

As Winter Storm Fern is blanketing the Carolinas with sleet and freezing rain, EnergyUnited crews will face increasingly difficult conditions this evening.