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TORONTO, Nov. 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Eighty additional Hydro One workers are joining the 145 line maintainers, foresters and support staff already assisting in power restoration efforts in the U.S..

This afternoon crews from across southern Ontario are driving south to Westchester and Orange Counties to put their skills to work alongside Con Edison crews in New York State. They will arrive late tonight and begin work tomorrow morning after receiving orientation and a full safety briefing.

"Some areas have been without electricity for over a week and with the weather getting colder the situation is getting more critical every day," said Len McMillan, Vice President, Lines and Forestry. "Our company has the skills, expertise and resources to make an important difference so sending every worker we can is the right thing to do."

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, 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.