Haywood County -- April 22, 2026: More than 3,000 Haywood EMC customers should prepare for a temporary loss of power tonight, Wednesday, April 22. The planned outage is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. and is expected to last approximately two hours.
The service interruption will primarily affect residents and businesses in the Maggie Valley and Jonathan Creek areas. According to Mitch Bearden, Chief Communications Officer for Haywood EMC, the outage is necessary to replace faulty equipment and is being classified as "routine maintenance."
Key Details for Residents:
Start Time: 10:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 22.
Estimated Duration: 2 hours (restoration expected by midnight).
Areas Impacted: Maggie Valley and Jonathan Creek.
Extended Impact: Customers in northern Haywood County may experience momentary "blinks" or brief fluctuations during the repair window.
Bearden emphasized that while there is never a perfect time to cut power, the late-evening slot was chosen to minimize the impact on the local economy and residents' daily routines.
"There's never an ideal time for a planned outage, but we chose 10 p.m. tonight... because it's the time that will cause the least amount of disruption for homeowners, as well as business owners," Bearden stated.
Preparing for the Outage
Residents in the affected zones are encouraged to:
Charge all mobile devices and laptops before 10 p.m.
Keep refrigerators and freezers closed to maintain cold temperatures during the two-hour window.
Unplug sensitive electronics to protect them from potential surges when power is restored.
For the latest updates or to view the real-time status of the grid, residents can monitor the Haywood EMC Outage Map.