January 18, 201312:00 p.m.Holston Electric Cooperative Outage Update 
Holston Electric Cooperative crews and additional contract crews are working throughout the system.   Repairs are slow when the ground is frozen, poles are broken and transformers and other equipment are on the ground. The outage count continues to fluctuate up and down. 

As repairs are completed and power is restored for some, other areas are losing power as heavy snow mounds fall onto power lines and trip circuit breakers. At noon today 2,370 customers are without power.  This involves 167 separate outage location sites.  Members should prepare for possible extended outages throughout Friday and into the weekend.   

All substation breakers are energized, with the remaining outages being "scattered" across the 525 square-mile service area. In addition, many individual service lines are down in yards. These repairs will be worked until power is available to all members.   Additional line crews from Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and Fort Loudoun Electric Cooperative are arriving this afternoon to assist Holston Electric crews with system repairs. 

The safety of customers and employees is always the first priority at Holston Electric.  Remember to avoid any downed or sagging power lines and never attempt to move or cut a tree that is in contact with a power line.  The lines could be energized even though they may appear to be out of service.We appreciate the patience, gratitude and concern members have expressed throughout this snow emergency.