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Ice Storm Award

The Edison Electric Institute has recognized the work of PSNH and its fellow NU electric utilities in restoring power in the wake of the Dec 11, 2008 ice storm.  The EEI press release is below:

EEI HONORS NORTHEAST UTILITIES WITH ‘EMERGENCY RECOVERY AWARD’ FOR POWER RESTORATION EFFORT

WASHINGTON (March 11, 2009) – The Edison Electric Institute today honored Northeast Utilities with the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its restoration efforts following a severe ice storm that knocked out power to its customers in the Northeast, and with the “Emergency Assistance Award” for helping The Dayton Power & Light Company (DP&L) bring its electric customers back on line following Hurricane Ike.

The “Emergency Recovery Award” and “Emergency Assistance Award” are presented annually to U.S. and foreign-based member companies to recognize outstanding efforts in restoring electric service that has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or natural events. The Recovery Award recognizes exceptional efforts in restoring electric service by a company in its own service territory; the Assistance Award recognizes companies that have excelled in helping utilities in other service territories restore power after similar storms and other natural events.

Winners of both awards were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and awards were presented today during EEI’s Spring CEO meetings.

All three electric operating companies under Northeast Utilities –Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P), Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) and Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) –were hit hard by the Dec. 11, 2008, ice storm that swept across the Northeast. Heavy ice accumulation brought down tree limbs and power lines, producing 417,000 outages.

A restoration crew of more than 1,800 workers assembled throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and proceeded with restoration efforts despite harsh conditions, which included wind gusts of 45 miles per hour. After completing its work, the CL&P crew was redirected to assist both WMECO and PSNH. Seventy-five percent of affected customers were brought back on line after five days, and service was restored to all customers after 13 days.

The company also provided crucial assistance to one of its fellow utility companies this past year, after Hurricane Ike delivered the most devastating winds in Ohio’s history, with gusts reaching speeds of 84 miles per hour. The wind was enough to cause major damage to the distribution and transmission infrastructure, and knocked cut power to 300,000 DP&L customers.

Nearly 120 Northeast Utilities employees, including workers from each of its operating companies, assisted in DP&L’s restoration effort, logging more than 13,100 hours from start to finish.

“Through its exceptional planning and implementation, Northeast Utilities demonstrated excellence in restoring electric service to its customers in the wake of a devastating ice storm,” said EEI President Thomas R. Kuhn. “The company also did a tremendous job in responding to DP&L’s call for assistance after Ike continued on its path northward. Its efforts on behalf of its own customers and those of DP&L reflect the highest level of commitment to restoring electric service no matter how great the challenge.”

Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) operates New England’s largest utility system serving more than two million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, western Massachusetts and New Hampshire. NU is dedicated to this region, as well as the people, energy and technology so vital to its security, stability and economic strength.

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Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of United States investor-owned electric utilities and industry affiliates and associates worldwide. Its domestic members generate approximately three-quarters of all the electricity generated by electric utilities in the country and serve about 70 percent of all ultimate customers in the nation.