SCOTTSDALE, AZ, Jan. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today presented Hydro One with an Emergency Assistance Award for its outstanding work assisting customers impacted by Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
"Hydro One has a long history of responding to help others in need. We have a highly skilled workforce specialized in both distribution and transmission systems. Our crews left their families and travelled over 2,500 km to safely assist with the restoration efforts and bring power back to the many homes and businesses across Florida," says Greg Kiraly, Chief Operating Officer, Hydro One. "We would like to thank the Edison Electric Institute for awarding Hydro One with this honour and for recognizing the outstanding efforts of our employees."
The award is presented to EEI member companies to recognize an outstanding response in assisting other electric companies in power restoration efforts following severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process and the awards were presented during EEI's Winter Board and CEO Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
On September 9, 2017, Hydro One received an official request for assistance from Florida Power and Light. Within 24 hours, 175 employees and over 80 vehicles and pieces of equipment were mobilized and headed south across the border. Hydro One's skilled line maintainers, foresters, mechanics and support staff spent fourteen days travelling to and working in Florida, helping to restore power to the millions of residents left in the dark following Hurricane Irma's destruction.
"When disaster impacts a region, electric companies from across the nation are called on to assist impacted companies in need – mutual assistance is a hallmark of our industry," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "When Hurricane Irma struck, Hydro One answered the call to help. Hydro One's assistance to restore service to impacted customers is a terrific example of mutual assistance in action."
Hydro One has reciprocal agreements in place with North American utilities to provide assistance during significant power outages.
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.
About Hydro One Inc.:
Hydro One Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of Hydro One Limited and Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with more than 1.3 million valued customers, $25 billion in assets and annual revenues of over $6.5 billion. Our team of 5,500 skilled and dedicated employees proudly and safely serves suburban, rural and remote communities across Ontario through our 30,000 circuit km high-voltage transmission and 123,000 circuit km primary distribution networks. Hydro One is committed to the communities we serve, and has been rated as the top utility in Canada for its corporate citizenship, sustainability, and diversity initiatives. We are one of only five utility companies in Canada to achieve the Sustainable Electricity Company designation from the Canadian Electricity Association. We also provide advanced broadband telecommunications services on a wholesale basis utilizing our extensive fibre optic network. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: H). For more information about everything Hydro One, please visit www.HydroOne.com.
SOURCE Hydro One Inc.
