Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/482413
PAG E 5 HONORS When Winter Storms Nika and Pax knocked out power to nearly 2 million people in Pennsylvania and Georgia last year, Alabama Power employees came to their aid in award-winning fashion. The company was honored on March 18 in Washington, D.C., with the Edison Electric Institute's (EEI) Emergency Assistance Award for help provided to Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL), Philadelphia Electric Co. (PECO) and Georgia Power. "It is a great honor for our company and employees to receive such a prestigious award," said Distribution Vice President Danny Glover. He said the award was the result of the willingness of more than 700 employees who traveled and worked in dangerous conditions to help the out-of- state utilities and customers. "This is another great example of how we lead the industry in storm restoration and how we are respected by other utilities," said Casey Shelton, business manager, System Council U-19, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. "Our employees have proven they are able to restore service safely under extreme conditions at home or for our fellow utility companies." Alabama Power has won more EEI Assistance Awards than any company. "Alabama Power's exemplary efforts to assist a neighboring utility illustrate the strength of the industry's mutual assistance network and its dedication to serving customers," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "We commend the crews who endured dangerous and icy conditions, as they diligently worked to safely and quickly restore service." On Feb. 5, 2014, more than 200 employees went to Philadelphia, where 1 foot of snow, a quarter-inch of ice and high winds had caused the second-most storm damage in PECO history. The Alabama Power crews worked more than 23,000 man-hours during their week in Pennsylvania. The company provided 134 line crewmen in 38 bucket trucks, 14 service lifts and 11 derrick trucks, as well as 82 support personnel from the three northernmost company divisions and Corporate Headquarters. PECO President and CEO Craig Adams said in a personal letter to all visiting crews, "I thank you for your efforts to restore electric service to the many customers in our service region. Words cannot express our appreciation for the selfless work you have done in our communities. Please express our thanks to your families for their patience as you worked long hours in difficult conditions over several days to restore service to our customers. Your commitment and dedication is nothing short of heroic." The restoration team arrived back home Feb. 11, with many employees only to turn around and head for Augusta, Jonesboro and Oakley, Ga., where they would work for five days in the largest restoration assistance effort in company history. Again in hazardous, cold and wet conditions, the crews toiled to get the power back on for some of the 700,000 Georgia Power customers left in the cold. Despite Alabama Power initially having nearly 60,000 customers without power because of Winter Storm Pax, the company was able to send 738 employees and 210 contractors to Georgia. The workers spent more than 55,000 man- hours assisting Georgia Power. Alabama Power was one of five companies receiving the EEI Assistance Award. Other companies honored were FirstEnergy, Kansas City Power & Light, Eversource Energy and the United Illuminating Co. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process. By Chuck Chandler 5 Riders on the Storm Alabama Power workers undertook largest-ever mutual assistance effort in February 2014. COMPANY CREW EFFORTS EARN TOP EEI ASSISTANCE AWARD More than 200 employees traveled to Pennsylvania.