Wire trouble puts out lights in Currituck County

CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C.

More than 9,000 customers in Grandy and Corolla lost power early today when a wire that runs across the Currituck Sound at the Wright Memorial Bridge was severed or malfunctioned.

Power went out about 10 a.m. for 9,180 customers and was restored at 11:20, said Karl Neddenien, spokesman for Dominion Power.

A “static wire” that runs along the power poles just north of the Wright Memorial Bridge was severed or malfunctioned, Neddenien said. Crews had not determined what happened and had not replaced the wire as of Tuesday afternoon. A large bird may have caused the problem, he said.

Part of the transmission system, a static wire helps protect customers against lightning strikes or other problems by cutting power when something goes wrong, Neddenien said. Current was rerouted to restore power, he said.