Utilities make progress in restoring power to customers who lost service on Christmas Day

Utilities make progressing restoring power in NC

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Utilities in western North Carolina are making progress in restoring service to customers who lost electricity in a Christmas Day ice storm.

Progress Energy Inc. reported that nearly 800 customers in Buncombe County were without power Monday morning following an ice storm Friday.

Spokeswoman Martha Thompson said that at the peak of the storm, there were more than 12,250 Progress Energy customers without power in western North Carolina.

In northwestern North Carolina, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corp. said about 5,200 customers were without service late Sunday in Watauga and Ashe counties. The utility says it could be Tuesday before all power is restored because of the massive damage from fallen trees, downed power lines and broken utility poles. Blue Ridge Electric has an extra 100 line technicians helping its crews.