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TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Hydro One has dispatched 145 line maintainers, foresters and support staff along with the necessary vehicles to assist in power restoration efforts in the U.S. after Hurricane Sandy knocked out power to millions of residents.

Crews are expected to cross the Canada/U.S. border Friday morning in Gananoque and Niagara Falls in order to reach Massachusetts by the end of the day to aid National Grid.

"Hydro One has been making great progress on restoring power to Ontario families and businesses," said Chris Bentley, Minister of Energy. "When the call for help came from our friends in the U.S., Hydro One was there, ready and willing to assist with vital power restoration efforts."

"Our workers' skills and experience are needed in this difficult situation and we are proud to be able to respond," said Laura Formusa, President and CEO, Hydro One. "Hydro One and the electricity sector have a long-standing shared history of responding in situations like this. We all know that timely restoration of electricity is critical to the health and economic well-being of our communities."

A media advisory will be issued with the exact time and location of the crossing, once confirmed.

Background on Mutual Assistance Agreements

• Hydro One has reciprocal agreements in place with North American utilities to provide assistance during significant power outages.
• In mutual assistance situations, all costs are covered by the utility receiving the help.
• On Canada Day, 2012, 200 Hydro One workers travelled to Washington D.C, Baltimore and Virginia after a massive storm hit the region.
• 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.
• Several US utilities helped out in the aftermath of the Ice Storm in 1998.

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 121,000 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.

SOURCE: Hydro One Inc.