TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2011 /CNW/ - Hydro One Networks is sending crews to
Vermont to assist with power restoration efforts in the wake of
Hurricane Irene.
Hydro One will send 140 line maintainers and other support personnel and
equipment to help two utilities in Vermont. The crews will be divided
between Green Mountain Power in Colchester and Central Vermont Public
Service in Rutland.
The utilities requested the assistance during preparations for Irene and
confirmed the need early Sunday afternoon.
"Our industry has a time-honoured tradition of working cooperatively
when natural disasters damage the grid," said Len McMillan, Vice
President, Hydro One. "Returning electricity to communities and
customers as quickly as possible in these situations is vital and we're
glad to be able to assist."
Hydro One has reciprocal agreements in place with North American
utilities to provide assistance during significant power outages. In
February of 2010, Hydro One helped utilities in Vermont in the wake of
a winter storm. In September 2008, crews travelled to Ohio to help
restore power after the remnants of Hurricane Ike caused massive
outages. Hydro One crews also provided assistance to the State of
Florida following hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
In 2007, Hydro One became the only non-U.S. utility to be awarded the
Edison Electric Institute's "Emergency Recovery Award" in recognition
of outstanding efforts in restoring electric service that has been
disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events.
Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes
and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates
Ontario's 29,000 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that
delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal
utilities, and a 122,000 kilometre low-voltage distribution system that
serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal
utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of
Ontario.