ENERGYUNITED PRESSES FORWARD WITH 300 STRONG FIELD WORKERS AS RESTORATION EFFORTS CONTINUE

STATESVILLE, N.C. – EnergyUnited made significant strides today in restoring power to members affected by the catastrophic damage from Tropical Storm Helene. Members remaining without power can expect restoration by Tuesday, October 1 at 11 p.m. or sooner. 

Despite encountering more devastation today, including broken poles and spans of wire down, our 300 field workers are committed to safely restoring power in hard-to-access and inaccessible areas. Collapsed roads and downed trees have made it difficult for crews to access certain locations with vehicles. In these areas, linemen are using manual processes, including climbing poles, to complete repairs and restore service. 

“We want to reassure our members that with 300 strong field workers, we are actively on the ground, facing these challenging conditions head on,” said Steve McCachern, vice president of energy delivery for EnergyUnited. “We are committed to pressing forward with our restoration efforts to restore power to our members as safely and efficiently as possible.” 

The cooperative appreciates members remaining patient and understanding despite the hardships caused by the storm. Crews are resilient, overcoming many challenges while working extended hours to restore power to all affected members.  

Members who are without power can locate estimated restoration times on the cooperative’s outage map. Current estimates are also outlined by county in the table below.  

Important Safety Reminders:
 

Stay away from downed power lines: Always assume any downed line is energized and dangerous. Report these sightings immediately to EnergyUnited or local emergency services.  

Stay clear of utility crews and work zones: As our crews work to restore power, it’s important for everyone to keep a safe distance from work areas. This ensures the safety of our workers and members. Please avoid approaching crews or entering zones marked for repairs.   

Avoid flooded areas: Do not walk through standing water near electrical equipment, as it could present an electrocution hazard. Stay clear of any flooded areas around EnergyUnited’s equipment.   

Use generators safely: Ensure generators are placed outdoors and far from windows, doors, and vents to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Never connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring, as this can cause backfeeding, which poses serious risks to linemen and field personnel. 
 

About EnergyUnited   EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina with 141,540 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 learn more about the cooperative’s energy services and community programs. 

Crews are resilient, overcoming many challenges as they work continuously to restore power to all affected members. 

In these hard-to-access areas, linemen are using manual processes, including climbing poles, to complete repairs and restore service.