Outage Update for 10-7-2024
Mountain Electric Cooperative Update- Hurricane Helene Restoration Efforts
October 7, 2024
MEC wants everyone to know, we have plenty of materials (including poles) to work with and trucks are arriving daily. Even though it’s the weekend and not our normal business hours, we are working today.
Status for Mtn City service area:
We currently have 1,500 members out of power.
General Area Crews Working: Forge Creek area, Laurel area, Sutherland Community, Neva areas including Dry Run, Draft, Dry Hill, Doe areas including Pedro Shoun and Sprucy Ridge area, Fish Springs and Hwy 321, and West Hillcrest area
General Area Tree Crew Working: Tree crews are in Trade today
We are getting questions about the Trade community.
The Shouns Substation is how Trade’s 3 phase lines are energized and there is no back feed available. Even if we did have a back feed option, there would be several parts of the community still without power since we do not have a way of installing the 3 phase lines yet. As mentioned yesterday, some areas on Hwy 421 in the Gorge do not have a foundation to set a pole on. We appreciate the road construction teams that are working diligently to rebuild Hwy 421to Trade. Trade community’s power cannot be back fed from the power lines serving the Zionville, NC community. MEC does not own those power lines or have access to the substation that serves the Zionville community. Another request has been to build a new substation to serve Trade, which is not a feasible option. The reasons are: TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) would have to build a new transmission line to serve that substation, which would take much longer than it will take MEC to rebuild the 3 phase lines back. Secondly, it would take months to obtain the transformers and equipment to build a new substation. Please be assured that plans are in place to get members power back on as quickly as possible and crews are already working in Trade.
The Poga / Hwy 321 area has many access roads that have received damage as well. Electrical infrastructure has been washed out in several areas.
Status of Newland and Roan Mtn:
We currently have 5,400 members out of power in Newland and 900 in Roan Mountain.
General areas crew are working in Newland and Roan Mtn:
Newland: Crews are still working in Heaton to gain access to Old Beech Mtn and Curtis Creek communities, Banner Elk Mill pond, Balm/Matney area, Sugar Mountain #2, Linville, Rhoney’s View and Beech Mtn areas
Roan Mountain: Crews are still in Piney Grove area headed to end of line toward McCoury Rd and Fairview, and also top of Buck Mtn and Walnut Mtn.
If you have a medical need (oxygen, dialysis or other medical conditions), please find a local emergency shelter. The electricity and the essential needs are being supplied at these shelters.
I am out in the field daily surveying damages to our system and checking on the crews working diligently to restore your power. I will return your messages when I can. I know there are several without electricity still and can assure you all the MEC crews and contractors are working. These individuals have worked 15 hours (or more) daily for 11 days straight and will continue to do so.
We are getting reports that wire is being stolen in certain communities which is holding up progress. If you see someone stealing wire, please get their tag number and report it to the police.
I would also like to give a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our communities in MEC service area. MEC appreciates the meals, food donations and prayers going up for us as we continue to restore power to all our members.
Rodney Metcalf, General Manager
Mountain Electric Cooperative
C: 423.727.1810
Fax: 423.727.1822
