Usually when there are large-scale power outages ice is to blame.  This time around, Blue Ridge Electric crews are dealing with wet snow.

BREMCO’s public relations director Renee Whitener said, “Line technicians with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are working primarily in Alleghany County this morning where the majority of problems from additional snowfall last night are affecting a total of 356 cooperative members without power as of 9:30 this morning.

“While heavy, wet snow that fell last night presented problems with trees falling on power lines, icing was not a major issue and therefore helped reduce the number of outages that could have been seen. Grounds saturated with rain and other precipitation the last few weeks also contributed to falling trees.”

Wilkes County is experiencing 102 outages, Caldwell has four outages, while Ashe and Watauga County have one outage each.

Less than one percent of all BREMCO’s customers are without power this morning.

If you are a Blue Ridge Electric customer and your power goes out, call the outage line at 1-800-448-2383.