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TORONTO, July 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Hydro One announced today it has dispatched crews to Washington D.C. and the surrounding area to assist with power restoration efforts after a recent wind storm in the U.S. caused widespread outages.

Hydro One is dividing three groups of approximately 200 employees to work with local utilities in the Baltimore, Virginia and Washington areas for work that will begin as early as Tuesday, July 3.

An estimated 3 million people are without power after massive storms hit the region. The area is now impacted by a record breaking heat wave and with no air conditioning.

"Hydro One crews have a long standing history of assisting neighbouring utilities when help is needed the most, and this time is no exception," said Len McMillan, Vice President, Lines and Forestry, Hydro One. "Our crews are ready and willing to do what they do best - help restore power quickly and safely to impacted customers." 

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 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km 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.