UPDATE: Buxton now on generator; crews working to provide additional power to both islands
At 4:30 a.m. the breaker at Oregon Inlet opened, causing a power outage for all of Hatteras Island and Ocracoke Island. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative crews were immediately dispatched to find the problem. At 7:00 a.m. the crews isolated the problem to a fault on the transmission cable that is attached to the Bonner Bridge.
CHEC has contacted its transmission contractor and is planning the next steps. At this time, CHEC is asking members and visitors to prepare for an extended outage. The cooperative will update everyone with a time frame as soon as it is available.
As of 10:30 a.m. Buxton was on generator power and CHEC was in the process of trying to pick up the circuits in Buxton with the diesel plant. Once the plant is up and running, CHEC will initiate rolling blackouts so that other villages can have power, but there is not yet a time frame for this next step.
This will only be possible if load is at minimal levels and everyone is conserving. To minimize load, please turn off AC units and minimize other electrical usage.
CHEC will bring additional portable generators to the island to provide additional power, as soon as possible.
