Greenville, South Carolina – Following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many residents in South Carolina are still facing power outages. Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative has been working tirelessly to restore power to its members, with more than half already having their power restored. However, over 29,000 members are still without power due to the significant damage caused by the hurricane, including 511 broken utility poles, marking the highest number of poles ever recorded in the cooperative’s 84-year history.
Crews from seven states have joined efforts to assist in the restoration process, with one substation, Cross Roads, still offline due to damage to Duke Energy’s transmission lines. Despite the challenges, progress has been made, with multiple areas already having power restored. Additionally, 140 workers from Florida are scheduled to arrive to provide additional assistance, bringing the total number of personnel on the job to over 500.
In Laurens County, power has been restored to a significant number of members, representing 46% of their member base. Crews have been working around the clock to restore power and rebuild infrastructure, with Duke Energy estimating that some areas may not have power restored until October 7. The cooperative is urging residents to be patient and understanding as they work towards full restoration.
Across South Carolina, electric cooperatives have made significant progress in restoring power to over 200,000 consumers statewide. However, approximately 218,000 co-op members still remain without power, especially in the western half of the state where the destruction of critical infrastructure has exceeded that of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Restoration efforts are expected to continue for at least a week as crews work tirelessly to repair extensive damage, including snapped power poles and infrastructure challenges.
The cooperatives are urging the public to exercise caution and patience during this challenging time, emphasizing the importance of safety around downed power lines and portable generators. With the support of crews from various states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia, efforts are ongoing to restore power and bring relief to those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene.