Entergy Wins Sixth
EEI Emergency Award
Entergy has won its sixth Edison Electric Institute
emergency award in a row. EEI honored the company with
its Emergency Assistance Award for its aid in
restoring electricity to customers of Dominion
Virginia Power and Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. in the
wake of massive damage caused by Hurricane Isabel last
September.
EEI’s Emergency Assistance Award is presented annually
and acknowledges outstanding efforts to help restore
electric service that has been disrupted by severe
weather conditions or other natural events. Winners
are chosen by a panel of judges following a national
nomination process. This year’s award was presented
during EEI’s CEO and Board of Directors meeting in
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Even before Isabel made landfall, Entergy began
convoying toward the mid-Atlantic, and nearly 600
employee and contract workers were deployed in the
recovery effort. All told, nearly a quarter of
Entergy’s lineman force were on hand to aid the
besieged electric companies in Maryland and Virginia
in what turned out to be the longest single deployment
of company personnel for a disaster recovery outside
its service territory.
EEI’s announcement labeled Hurricane Isabel a “killer
storm,” and acknowledged the tragic dimensions of the
restoration for Entergy as Aaron Presley, a senior
lineman from Entergy Mississippi, was killed while
restoring service. In all, Hurricane Isabel claimed
the lives of three restoration workers.
“We are very pleased to give this award to Entergy,
which has a long and distinguished tradition of
helping other utilities in the aftermath of natural
disaster,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “Entergy’s
recovery team did not hesitate, and its sacrifice is
deeply appreciated not only by our industry but by
all.”
Entergy is the only company in the nation to win
either EEI’s emergency response or assistance award
every year it has been offered. |
