National Grid Earns EEI Emergency Assistance Award and Emergency Recovery Award for Restoration Efforts Across U.S.
WALTHAM, MA, June 6, 2018 /3BL Media/ – The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today presented National Grid with the EEI Emergency Assistance Award and the EEI Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding power restoration efforts after Winter Storm Riley, Winter Storm Quinn, and a severe wind and ice storm that impacted New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in October 2017, March 2018, and April 2018.
EEI presents the awards to recognize select companies’ efforts in power restoration after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. Following an international nomination process, a panel of judges selects the winners. National Grid received the awards during EEI’s Annual Convention in San Diego.
“Emergency response is a hallmark of our industry and our company. We take great pride in serving our customers in New York and New England and in supporting other utilities — within our local region and as far away as Puerto Rico — following these types of devastating weather events,” said Ken Daly, National Grid’s Chief Operating Officer- Electric. “The men and women of National Grid are honored to receive this recognition for their tireless restoration efforts and commitment to serving customers.”
In October 2017, a strong wind storm brought hurricane-force winds across areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and caused service outages for more than 504,000 customers. National Grid’s swift, effective response and use of innovative technologies, such as the iRestore mobile app, gave local police, fire agencies, and other first responders the ability to relay information related to damages directly to National Grid. This ultimately ensured crews arrived on site with the resources needed to address specific outage issues. National Grid dedicated more than 91,000 man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within six days of the storm.
On March 1, 2018, Winter Storm Riley, followed by Winter Storm Quinn, resulted in heavy, wet snow and high winds across the Catskill and Hudson Valley regions of New York, leaving many customers without service. In response, National Grid sent 60 lineworkers to help restore power to customers over the course of eight days.
In addition to meeting a mutual assistance call to help with restoration efforts after Winter Storms Riley and Quinn, National Grid’s own service territory was impacted by the nor’easters, which caused service outages for more than 945,000 customers across New York. National Grid crews dedicated more than 212,000 total man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within six days of Winter Storm Riley and within five days of Winter Storm Quinn.
National Grid’s Western, Central, and Eastern New York Divisions were also impacted by a severe weather event on April 4, 2018, when extreme winds, heavy rains, and snow caused service outages for more than 216,000 customers across the region. In preparation for the storm, National Grid mobilized crews and staff across Upstate New York and within their Control Room and Contact Centers to prepare for its impact. National Grid crews dedicated more than 88,000 man-hours to restoration efforts and restored service to 100 percent of customers within three days.
“The dedicated crews from National Grid are truly deserving of this recognition for their tremendous efforts to restore service in difficult conditions and to assist neighboring electric companies in times of need,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “National Grid’s restoration efforts and its assistance during these storms illustrate our industry’s unwavering commitment to serving our customers and to providing mutual assistance.”
About EEI
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 National Grid
National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company that supplies the energy for more than 20 million people through its networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates the systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.
National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Read more about the innovative projects happening across our footprint in The Democratization of Energy, an eBook written by National Grid’s US president, Dean Seavers.
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