Thousands of Piedmont Electric Cooperative customers in southern Orange County started their Friday in the dark after a transmission line problem cut power to multiple substations, blacking out traffic signals and sending neighborhoods scrambling. The outage began shortly before 7:30 a.m., hitting areas west and southwest of Carrboro especially hard, as Piedmont crews moved in to track down the fault and restore service while officials urged drivers to use extra caution at dark intersections.
What officials say about the cause and scope
According to Chapelboro, Piedmont said more than 7,000 customers across Orange County lost service, describing the problem in a social media update as "a transmission line issue" affecting several substations. Chapelboro reported that crews were still investigating as of about 7:45 a.m., and that Piedmont estimated power would be restored for affected customers around 10:30 a.m., based on an update the utility posted at 8:30 a.m.
Where the outage hit hardest
PowerOutage.com's tracker showed roughly 7,100 Piedmont Electric customers without power Friday morning, with Orange County taking most of the hit. Piedmont's live outage map showed dense clusters along North Carolina Highway 54 and Jones Ferry Road, around Smith Level Road and nearby neighborhoods, and pockets near New Hope Church Road and Mt. Sinai north of Chapel Hill. Those hot spots line up with the areas Chapelboro noted from the cooperative's map.
How to report an outage and stay safe
The blackout knocked out several traffic signals, and local coverage reminded drivers that a dead signal is legally a four-way stop, not a free-for-all. Piedmont Electric Cooperative's outage center notes that customers can report outages by calling 800-222-3107, texting "#out" to that number, or logging into SmartHub.
A recent pattern of transmission line troubles
This is not the first time this spring that a transmission line issue has cut power for Piedmont members. In March, a similar problem left about 6,100 customers without electricity after a tree damaged a transmission line and forced staged shutoffs while crews made repairs, WRAL reported. Utilities say that temporarily disconnecting substations during repair work can be necessary to protect the broader grid and keep crews safe.
Piedmont has urged members to keep an eye on its outage map and SmartHub for the latest updates and to stay clear of any downed power lines. Local officials also reminded residents to reserve 911 for true emergencies and to use the cooperative's reporting tools for nonemergency outage issues.
