As of 8:30 a.m., more than 24,000 REC members were without power as a result of the damaging winds that entered our 22-county service territory overnight. Sustained winds of 30 mph with gusts over 50 mph are expected to continue through tonight. The highest concentration of outages are west of State Route 29.
Crews restored service to several thousand members overnight, however trees are falling onto lines and creating more outages faster than crews can make repairs. As of this morning, REC is aware of more than 200 damage locations, with additional reports constantly coming in.
REC’s crews will continue to work as long as they can do so safely. Right-of-way and power line contractors are assisting REC, and additional assistance has been requested from other cooperatives.
• Due to the dynamic nature of this wind storm, restoration times for specific repairs are not being provided.
• While the winds continue to gust heavily, REC will remain in “triage” mode
• Crews are currently responding to emergencies as reported by local 911 centers, and to damage on larger lines that power substations and whole communities.
• A projection for complete restoration of service will not be available until the winds calm and the potential for additional outages is reduced.
Safety is always a top priority for our employees and members. Downed power lines and trees touching the lines are extremely dangerous. Please be on the lookout for downed lines and be aware that hazardous conditions may exist in the aftermath of this storm. If you see a downed line, report it by contacting REC or 911 and be sure to keep others away from the line.
To report an outage, log in to MyREC SmartHub or visit myrec.coop/out. For those who prefer to phone in to report an outage, call toll-free: 1-800-552-3904. Monitor power outages and important information in the Outage Center in MyREC SmartHub or at www.myrec.coop/outagecenter.
If the cause of the damage is evident, and you are reporting your outage by phone, please provide information concerning cause and location to the member service representative. Callers with no additional information are encouraged to choose the automated reporting option.
REC provides electric service to over 165,000 connections in parts of 22 Virginia counties. With its general office in Fredericksburg, Va., the Cooperative operates and maintains more than 17,000 miles of power lines through its service area, which ranges from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
