UPDATED: Power outages reported in parts of Oconee and Pickens; those without power should turn off all appliances

UPDATE (8:45 PM): Blue Ridge Co-Op customers east and south of the city of Seneca report their power has been restored.

As the Golden Corner settles into its coldest night in two decades, some citizens are finding themselves in the dark. Terry Ballenger of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative tells WGOG News a Duke transmission line serving BREC substations is down and there is no definite timetable on its repair. Ballenger tells us the substations without service Monday night are the ones at Gap Hill serving Pickens County, and the Newry and Corinth substations in Oconee County. Officials with Duke Energy say they hope to have the line repaired “soon”, but due to the extreme cold, service restoration may be “troublesome”. Officials are urging those who are without power to go through their homes and turn off all appliances, so that nothing will automatically turn on when power is restored. Ballenger says if power is restored with these appliances on, the system could become overburdened and go down again. Though restoration is hoped for this evening, Ballenger urges those without power to go ahead and make alternate plans for tonight, instead of attempting to wait for the power to be restored, as the timetable for restoration is unknown. WGOG.com and WGOG on Facebook will continue to have updates as they become available.