Utilities restore more electric service in western North Carolina following snow, ice

Utilities restore more power in western 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 more than 700 customers in Buncombe County were without power Tuesday morning following an ice storm Friday. Service was expected to be restored late Tuesday.

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 4,000 customers were without service late Monday in Watauga and Ashe counties. The utility says it could be Wednesday before all power is restored because of the massive damage from fallen trees, downed power lines and broken utility poles.