**UPDATE the blackouts ended at approximately 10am 12/24 - Haywood EMC Implements Rolling Blackouts to Reduce Use of Electricity During Extreme Cold 

Duke Energy, Haywood EMC's power provider, has requested a reduction of load across their system causing Haywood EMC to begin rotating blackouts. Failure to reduce the power demand may lead to instability on the regional power grid. 

These blackouts will occur on a rolling basis, affecting members in served by different Haywood EMC substations for approximately one hour at a time.  

Haywood EMC's members in the affected areas are requested to reduce the rebound effect on demand by adhering to the following guidelines where appropriate, but not to the point where life or health are endangered: 

1. Turn off all motors and lights until after the power is restored. 
2. Slowly over the next hour after power is restored, turn on only the needed appliances.
3. Lower thermostat setting to the lowest comfortable setting
4. Reduce water heater temperatures to 120 degrees 
5. Delay dishwashing and clothes washing until after the power emergency hours 
6. Minimize the use of lights 
7. Delay any other use of electricity until after the daytime power emergency hours if possible and safe 
8. Be prepared to implement these power reduction measures again in following days if required 

Haywood EMC is a member–owned electric cooperative providing power to more than 28,000 consumers in Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Oconee SC, Rabun GA, and Transylvania counties. For more information, visit www.haywoodemc.com.com or the cooperative’s social media on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.