Grayson Kelly

Senior Vice President, Government & Public Relations @blueridgecoop

[Grayson Kelly @GraysonAKelly]

We have over 600 line workers currently in the field working diligently to restore power. Please be patient as we respond to winter storm Fern.

All of us @blueridgecoop will work until every light is on.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Our crews are in the field continuing the massive undertaking of restoring power to the over 25,000 without service on our system.

While the storm has passed, the damage remains. We are currently facing multiple clusters of broken poles. Replacing a single pole is a 3 to 4-hour process in the best conditions. But today, our crews are fighting a moving target. They may spend hours setting a new pole and stringing line, only for a thawing branch to snap and knock the entire section back down.

Blue Ridge serves some of the most rugged, mountainous, remote terrain in South Carolina. If you can’t get out, we can’t get in. Many of our damaged lines are miles from the main road. If your driveway or local road is still impassable, it means our heavy service trucks are facing those same hurdles. This is as frustrating for us as it is for you. We are working with every resource we have to reach those remote areas.

Please give our line crews the space they need to do their jobs safely. We ask that you don’t approach them in the field or do anything that slows them down or puts you or our lineworkers at risk.

Our offices are closed today so our entire team can continue to focus 100% on restoration. We will get the power back on! Until the last light is on and the last team member is home — safely.

We’ll keep the updates coming. Below are photos from the field showing exactly what our teams are up against this morning.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Happy Father's Day from all of us at Blue Ridge!

Pictured here are two generations of one family who help keep your lights on. On the far right is Bryan Roper, who oversees operations. On the far left is his son, DJ, a line foreman. DJ's two kids, Olivia and Carter, are also Bryan's grandchildren.

To every Blue Ridge employee who is a dad first and still answers the call when the power goes out, thank you. On-call shifts and storm response often pull these men away from home, and we don't take that for granted.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Hurricane season officially began June 1, and we've already got our first named system on the radar. Tropical Storm Arthur is forecast to bring up to 3 inches of rain to our service territory throughout today, with a chance of wind gusts exceeding 20 miles per hour.

While Arthur isn't expected to cause any significant impacts here, it's a great reminder that hurricane season is just getting started, and it tends to ramp up as we move into late summer and fall. A few reminders to make sure you're prepared:

- Have a plan for staying informed during outages (https://t.co/rJ9whTZBut)
- Keep a flashlight and fresh batteries on hand
- Charge your phones, power banks and any backup batteries before weather arrives
- If you rely on medical equipment that needs power, have a backup plan ready

Preparing now pays off down the road. Stay safe today!

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Blue Ridge is proud to welcome Mosdorfer GmbH to the Oconee Industry and Technology Park. Congratulations to Mosdorfer and the Oconee Economic Alliance on a partnership that will bring more than 100 jobs to our community! 💙⚡️

https://t.co/PrAyu0qJjA

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Our transmission provider has informed us they need to take an emergency outage to make infrastructure repairs in northern Greenville County that will affect our distribution substation beginning at 4:30 p.m. This will last approximately 90 minutes. Thank you for your patience.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Happy REA Day! On May 11, 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing the Rural Electrification Administration. A year later, Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act, and the lending program that became the REA got underway.

While we weren't founded until August 14, 1940, our history can certainly be traced back to this historic move that brought electric service to rural communities. Mr. F.O. Durham served as the co-op's acting manager in the early 1940s, and this badge he wore tells part of that story.

https://t.co/gN3cwR7Gus

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Our offices will be closed Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday. Emergency crews are on standby to respond to any potential outages. To report an outage, use our mobile app, text OUT to 800-240-3400 or call 888-258-3743. Bookmark our outage center here: https://t.co/rJ9whTZBut

Our offices will reopen on Monday, April 6, at 8 a.m.

[Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC]

We’re all so fortunate that two Blue Ridge linemen escaped serious injury when a tree fell on the cab of their truck. Being a lineman during a storm is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.

God bless Blue Ridge Co-Op linemen and all others who put their lives at risk during storms to make our lives more comfortable.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

The Guys from @BerkeleyElectr3 are here and ready to roll! More updates to come this morning, but wanted to shout this group real quick!

@SCcooperatives

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Late night staging walkthrough at our Pickens campus before the battle begins tomorrow 👀 #WinterStormFern

[Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina @SCcooperatives]

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives are on hand at Gov. @henrymcmaster’s press conference at the S.C. Emergency Management Division to provide an update on Winter Storm Fern.

Experts say the storm could be the worst ice storm to hit the Upstate in two decades.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Winter Storm Fern is getting close. We’re ready for her.

Over 250 linemen are staged and ready to respond. Forecasts predict a significant ice event with strong winds that could cause multi-day outages across Blue Ridge territory. Ice storms are far more dangerous for crews than hurricanes. These conditions will slow restoration work, especially in rural areas. That’s why your prayers and patience are especially appreciated. We will post important updates here as they become available.

Stay safe! 💙⚡️

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

When a major storm hits, Blue Ridge linemen are ready to swing into action to repair power outages, often before the storm is even over. The goal is always to safely restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time possible. But more is involved than simply throwing a switch or removing a fallen tree from a power line. Here's some important background on how power is restored to homes.

Remember, you can report outages by texting OUT to 800-240-3400, through the mobile app (https://t.co/O5jQ4rwMU3).

[Grayson Kelly @GraysonAKelly]

@blueridgecoop is ready to respond to winter storm Fern. We encourage our customers to prepare accordingly and remain patient as we restore services.

[Sheri Biggs @RepSheriBiggs]

Winter Storm Fern is moving into South Carolina and my thoughts are with every family across our area.

Reports say this storm is expected to bring freezing rain, sleet, ice, and snow; which could mean possible power outages and dangerous road conditions.

Please take a moment to be sure you are prepared, check on neighbors and the elderly, and consider lending a helping hand to those in need including donating blood, providing supplies, or volunteering your time if it’s safe to do so.

Here are additional helpful resources and follows that will be sharing important updates over the coming days:
⁃ @henrymcmaster
⁃ @SCEMD
⁃ @fema
⁃ @NWSGSP
⁃ @NWSColumbia
⁃ @SCDOTPress
⁃ @SCNationalGuard
⁃ @theSCDPS
⁃ @SC_DSS
⁃ @SC_DPH
⁃ @DominionEnergy
⁃ @DukeEnergy
⁃ @blueridgecoop
⁃ @SCcooperatives
⁃ @ForestryCommish
⁃ @SCStateFire

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

During major storms, our phone lines get busy fast. Skip the wait by using our digital tools. The Blue Ridge App and TextPower send your outage report directly into our dispatch system — no hold required.

https://t.co/6h5gfZX8IC

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

As temperatures drop, your heating system works overtime, but small adjustments can lead to big winter energy savings. From thermostat settings to sealing air leaks, these practical strategies help your home stay warm efficiently throughout the cold months.

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

Senior Vice President of Government and Public Relations @GraysonAKelly recently spoke with @postandcourier about the need for state legislation to better protect utility workers in response to a growing number of threats across South Carolina: https://t.co/sb6qaTalSs

[Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette @PamelaEvette]

Great to spend some time @blueridgecoop on the trail with SC7, especially the brave linemen who work hard to keep our lights on. We must continue our work — collaborating with SC energy companies — to ensure we have reliable, affordable, and abundant energy in SC.

[Grayson Kelly @GraysonAKelly]

Thanks to @jelliottsc and leaders in both chambers of the general assembly for recognizing the importance of additional power generation in #sc

[Tom Davis @SenTomDavisSC]

.@postandcourier @jelliottsc: “I applaud @murrellsmith @shanemassey and @SenTomDavisSC for their work to advance conversations about South Carolina’s energy capacity and the importance of transmission and generation infrastructure.” https://t.co/gMxmgjsUOy

[Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative ⚡️ @blueridgecoop]

The State House lobby is filling up! 💙⚡️#SCCooperatives