08/31/11 — Still some without power in Goldsboro

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Still some without power in Goldsboro

By From staff reports
Published in News on August 31, 2011 1:46 PM

As of this morning slightly more than 700 Wayne County Progress Energy customers remained without power -- mostly in the Goldsboro area and the areas east and north of the city.

Tri-County Electric Membership Corp. had begun Tuesday with about 540 customers without power, but by 10 p.m. Tuesday had restored services to all of its customers.

As of 4 a.m. today, about 22,600 Progress Energy customers remained without power -- down from the peak of 280,000 customers out as the storm battered coastal and inland areas Friday night and through the day Saturday.

More than 440,000 customers were without power at one time or another because of Hurricane Irene.

Progress Energy officials said the company hopes to complete 99 percent restoration by midnight tonight and restore service to all homes and businesses capable of receiving power by midnight Thursday.

As many as Tri-County 22,000 members were without power following Hurricane Irene.

"We feel much better this morning," said Tri-County EMC General Manager Mike Davis. "We did a lot Sunday and Monday."

Davis joked that he was even able to stay home for a few hours Tuesday night.

"The severe damage caused by the hurricane hindered repair efforts," Davis said. "We appreciate our members helping our crews and being patient while they worked diligently to restore power. Cooperative crews are focused on restoring power safely and efficiently to the greatest number of members in the shortest amount of time possible.

"Repairs generally begin with transmission lines and substations, which deliver power to thousands of households and businesses. From there, personnel move on to issues affecting individual homes or buildings and livestock."