Here are some frequently asked questions:                                                                                                           (top)

What should I do in a power outage?

How do I read my meter?

Do compact fluorescents help save money?

Why are the trees being trimmed?

 

What should I do in a power outage?

Be Prepared:   Have an emergency outage kit and supplies accessible and easy to find in the dark.  

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
• Stock up on canned and non-perishable foods that require no cooking, baby supplies and pet food
• Manual can opener
• Bottled water; plan on a gallon of water per person per day
• First aid supplies and medicine
• Candles and matches (never leave candles unattended, and keep them away from combustible materials)
• Extra fuses
• Clock, either battery-powered or wind-up
• Extra cash; bank machines may be out of service
• If you have a laptop computer, it's a good idea to have a spare, fully charged battery on hand
• Keep your vehicles tank full

 When the Power Goes Out   Watch for downed power lines. Stay back and consider all lines energized. Call 911 and New River Light and Power at (828) 264-8621.   Turn on your battery-powered radio for news.   Turn off lights, heating and cooling systems to prevent overloading circuits as power is restored.    Unplug some of your major appliances. Appliances can create a drain or power surge when the power comes back on which could harm sensitive equipment.   Avoid opening your refrigerator and freezer, food inside should stay cold for hours if the door remains closed.   DO NOT USE kerosene heaters, BBQs, charcoal, natural gas range, or any outdoor type heater inside. They create poisonous carbon monoxide that could kill. A regular wood stove or fireplace is appropriate to use for heat.   Dress warm (if applicable). Wear layers; sweater, jacket, gloves and a knit hat. If your home gets too cold, head to a heated shelter.   Only use a properly installed generator that disconnects your power from the main power grid when it is operating.   Drive carefully; traffic signals could be out as well.  Consider each intersection to be a four-way stop and drive defensively. Make sure you know how to operate your automatic garage door opener manually (refer to product manual).   A small flow of water from your tap will help keep your pipes from freezing.   Check on neighbors who may have medical conditions or use medical machinery that operates on electricity.   Once Power is Restored   Give the electrical system 10 to 15 minutes to recover before reconnecting electric appliances.   Check for electrical damage inside your home, such as frayed wires, sparks or the smell of burning insulation. If you find damage to your meter box or weather head, don’t turn your power on until an electrician inspects your system and makes necessary repairs.   Check refrigerator and freezer for signs of spoilage.

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How do I read my meter?

First, take a look at your last electric bill. It shows how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity you used during the month. A kilowatt-hour is equal to the amount of electricity consumed when ten 100-watt light bulbs burn for one hour. If you have a meter like the one below in Figure 1 (digital), just write down the numbers as they appear on the meter.   Figure 1               Figure 2   If your meter looks like the one in Figure 2, it is a “dial” type meter. You may have either four or five dials on your meter. These dials are read from right to left and should be recorded in the same order. Each dial is numbered from 0 to 9. Usually, the pointer on a dial will be between two numbers.   Always read the lower of the two numbers. Notice some dials move clockwise and some counterclockwise. In cases where the pointer is directly on a number, you have to check the dial immediately to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 0 and 1, record the higher number shown on the first dial. If the pointer is between 9 and 0, record the lower number. The amount of energy you have used, for a day, a week, or a month may be determined by subtracting your first reading from your last reading.

Click here for a short video.

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Do compact fluorescents help save money?

The answer is yes! Compact fluorescents can save more than $40 in electricity costs over its lifetime, uses about 75% less energy that the standard incandescent bulb, and produces about 75% less heat.   Click here for a short video.

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Why are the trees being trimmed? When trees grow into the power lines, they create a safety hazard. New River’s tree trimming crew will only trim trees that are infringing within the 10 foot radius of the primary lines. Those lines are located about 30 feet high. Typically New River will trim trees in the spring and fall.   New River will also trim trees around service lines going to a residence upon request. For more information or to schedule trimming, call 828-264-8621.   When selecting trees to plant under power lines, consider trees that grow no larger than 20 feet high for primary lines and smaller trees under service lines.   Below is a list of trees and shrubs that typically will not exceed 20 feet at maturity and will grow in Boone’s Climate Zone 6. For more information on types of trees, please contact your local nursery or arborist.

 

Common Name	Botanical Name	Average Mature Height
American Filbert	Corylus Americana	15'
Amur Maple	Acer Ginnala	18'
Beautybush	Kolkwitzia Amabilis	10'
Blackhaw Viburnum	Viburnum Prunifolium	15'
Bottlebrush Buckeye	Aesculus Parvifolia	15'
Burkwook Viburnum	Viburnum Burkwoodi	10'
Chasetree	Vitex Negundo	15'
Cherry Plum	Prunus Cerasifera "Thundercloud"	20'
Common Lilac	Syringa Vulgaris	15'
Common Smoketree	Cotinus Coggygria	15'
Doublefile Viburnum	Viburnum Plicatum	10'
Dwarf Burford Holly	Ilex Cornuta Burfordi Nana	10'
Fragrant Winterhazel	Corylopsis Glabescens	15'
Globe Norway Maple	Acer Platanoides "Globosum"	18'
Hally Jolivette Flowering Cherry	Prunus "Hally Jolivette"	15'
Hetzi Juniper	Juniperus Chinensis "Hetzi"	12'
Japanese Holly	Ilex Crenata	10'
Lantanaphyllum Viburnum	Viburnum Rhytidophylloides	12'
Leatherleaf Viburnum	Viburnum Rhytidophyllum	15'
Leprechaun Ash	Fraxinus Pennsylvanica "Johnson"	18'
Linden Viburnum	Viburnum Dilatatum	10'
Little Gem Magnolia	Magnolia Grandflora "Little Gem"	20'
Oak-leafed Hydrangea	Hydrangea Quercifolia	12'
Pearlbush	Exochorda Racemosa	15'
Rose-of-Sharon	Hibiscus Syriacus	12'
Russian Tea-Olive	Elaeagnus Angustifolia	15'
Sargents Viburnum	Viburnum Sargenti	15'
Serviceberry	Amelanchier Canadensis	15'
Siebold Viburnum	Vibrunum Sieboldii	20'
Star Magnolia	Magnolia Stellata	12'
Vernal Witchhazel	Hamamelis Vernalis	10'
White Fringetree	Chioanthus Virginicus	20'
Winterberry	Ilex Verticillata	15'

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