NYSEG Presented with EEI Emergency Response Award
Company recognized for customer-focused 2020 Christmas response effort
BINGHAMTON, NY — June 15, 2021 — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recently announced New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) as a recipient of EEI’s Emergency Response Award for the company’s restoration efforts in response in the 2020 Christmas Windstorm. The storm, which produced heavy rain and wind gusts in excess of 70 mph, impacted nearly 60,000 NYSEG customers across the state. Despite tough conditions, the company was able to restore approximately 77% of impacted customers within a day and restored all customers within 48 hours.
“This award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our employees to put customers first,” said Carl A. Taylor, President and CEO of NYSEG. “Our goal is to restore customers as quickly and safely as possible, and that means continuing work until the last customer is restored. However, during the 2020 Christmas Storm, there was increased pressure to restore power so that our customers could enjoy their holidays. I’m grateful to our storm team and applaud them as a credit to their profession. They took time away from their own families to respond to this storm and care for the customers and communities we serve. I’d also like to thank our customers for their patience and support of our field personnel as they worked to restore power.”
Presented to EEI member companies, Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts of electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.
The 2020 Christmas Windstorm reached NYSEG’s service area late on Christmas Eve, bringing heavy rain and strong winds with gusts reaching more than 70 mph in areas. The severe weather most significantly impacted the company’s Capital Region, Catskill, Hudson Valley and Westchester service footprint. More than 1,220 personnel were enlisted to support restoration efforts across the state, which included replacing approximately 65 broken poles and addressing roughly 300 downed wires.
“Many EEI member companies experienced historic storms and other significant weather-related events in recent months that left customers without power,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “Mutual assistance is a hallmark of our industry and is critical to ensuring a safe and efficient restoration. Crews worked around the clock and often in the most dangerous of conditions to assess damage and to restore power safely and as quickly as possible. They did all of this during a global pandemic. NYSEG and its employees went above and beyond for the customers and the communities impacted by the 2020 Christmas Windstorm, and they are exceptionally deserving of this outstanding award.”
About NYSEG: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. Established in 1852, NYSEG operates approximately 35,000 miles of electric distribution lines and 4,500 miles of electric transmission lines across more than 40% of upstate New York. It also operates more than 8,150 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines and 20 miles of gas transmission pipelines. It serves approximately 894,000 electricity customers and 266,000 natural gas customers. For more information, visit nyseg.com.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) is a leading, sustainable energy company with approximately $36 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states. With headquarters in Orange, Connecticut, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs approximately 6,600 people. AVANGRID supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2019 and 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute. For more information, visit avangrid.com.
Learn about the Iberdrola Group’s global pandemic response at its COVID-19 Hub.
Media Contacts:
- Sarah Warren
sarah.warren@avangrid.com
585.794.9253