The Edison Electric Institute presented Orange-based United Illuminating Jan. 10 with the association’s Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding power restoration efforts after severe storms in May 2018. United Illuminating received the award during EEI’s Winter Board and Chief Executives Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
The Emergency Recovery Award is given to select EEI member companies to recognize their extraordinary efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.
On May 15, a line of severe storms spawning an EF-1 tornado and associated macro-and-micro-bursts with peak winds of up to 110 miles per hour resulted in 43,612 service outages in UI’s territory. UI’s crews restored service to 100 percent of customers within six days of the storm, dedicating 46,570 man-hours to the recovery.
“The dedication of United Illuminating’s crews to restore service throughout Connecticut after this severe storm illustrates our industry’s commitment to customers,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “United Illuminating’s crews worked tirelessly in hazardous conditions to quickly and safely restore power. They are truly deserving of this award.”
James P. Torgerson, CEO of UI parent company AVANGRID, accepted the award on behalf of UI. Tony Marone, UI’s president and CEO, credited the successful restoration to the hard work of UI personnel, as well as assistance from UI’s sister companies and others who participated in the effort.
“I’m proud that EEI has recognized the hard work of United Illuminating’s employees and their partners following the extreme weather that struck our service territory on May 15, 2018,” said Marone. “This storm system, and the tornadoes it spawned, left devastation across the region, leaving many thousands of customers without power. In some areas, we essentially had to rebuild the entire electric distribution system in order to restore service. The success of this effort is a credit not only to our employees, but also to the mutual assistance crews and contractors who joined them, our municipal partners, and the affected residents themselves. Our colleagues at our sister company, Central Maine Power, deserve special mention for their participation in the timely and safe restoration of service.”
AVANGRID CEO James P. Torgerson receives the Emergency Recovery Award from Edison Electric Institute President Tom Kuhn Jan. 10 at EEI’s Winter Board and Chief Executives Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy of AVANGRID.