The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today presented Hydro Ottawa with the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its outstanding power restoration efforts after two tornadoes in September 2018.
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. Hydro Ottawa received the award during EEI’s Winter Board and Chief Executives Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.
On September 21, an EF-3 and an EF-2 tornado hit the City of Ottawa causing extensive damage, resulting in 171,462 service outages in Hydro Ottawa’s territory. Due to their tireless work, Hydro Ottawa’s crews restored service to 100 percent of customers within four days after the storm, dedicating 3,824.5 man-hours to the recovery.
“The dedication of Hydro Ottawa’s crews to restore service throughout the City of Ottawa after two tornadoes illustrates our industry’s commitment to customers,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “Hydro Ottawa’s crews worked tirelessly in hazardous conditions to quickly and safely restore power. They are truly deserving of this award.”
“Our employees are our greatest strength,” said Hydro Ottawa President and Chief Executive Officer Bryce Conrad. “Faced with the largest power outage in the company’s history, they banded together and worked tirelessly to bring power back across our city.”
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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 65 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.
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