Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power crews are working hard and are well on the way to getting the lights back on for the nearly 56,000 customers affected by Wednesday’s strong winds. The storm brought tropical storm force winds, leaving widespread damage across the state, particularly east of the Green Mountain Ridge, with Windham County hit especially hard. Crews are encountering downed trees, lines, and broken poles.
A pine tree brings down power lines on Route 5in Bellows Falls. GMP photos.
GMP and external crews were positioned to respond quickly before the storm hit and have been working non-stop to get the lights back on with more than 500 people doing storm repairs.
GMP is making significant progress with more restorations throughout the dayand expects to restore power today to many of the 4,430 customers still out in the hardest hit areas. Due tothe widespread nature of the remainingoutagesitmight take throughSundaybefore every last customer has power. Strong winds Friday could also cause new, isolated outages.
“Crews will continue to make a lot of progress today.The severe nature of the damage has been challenging for our crews who are making repairs in the hardest hit spots. They are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power and will not stop until all are restored. We are thankful to our customers for their kind words and understanding,” said Kristin Carlson, GMP’s Vice President of Strategic and External Affairs.
Green Mountain Power is reminding everyone to stay safe. Don’t touch downed lines or downed trees.
To get the latest information on outages and restoration times, customers can sign up for text service alerts, by texting REG to 46788 or GMPVT, or signing up online atgreenmountainpower.com/textalerts. Customers can also sign up for GMP’s app to report outages with a touch of a finger at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for GMP.Customers may also report outages by calling1-888-835-4672, or visiting GMP’s Outage Center page atwww.greenmountainpower.com
For storm safety tips go to:http://www.greenmountainpower.com/community/safety/be-safe-in-a-storm/
Vermont Electric Co-op Lends a Hand to Other Utilities Post-Storm
For the fourth time in about a month, crews from the Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) have packed up and headed out to help other utilities restore power after a windstorm whipped through VermontWednesdaynight.
Today, after wrapping up repairs in VEC territory, the co-op sent crews to help Green Mountain Power and Washington Electric Co-op restore power in hard-hit pockets of their territories. Last month, VEC sent three waves of crews at different times to storm-battered New Hampshire and southern New England to help restore power there.
“Mutual aid is part of what utilities do – we help our friends in the region get the lights back on when the chips are down for them,” said Kris Smith, VEC’s Manager of SCADA and Operations Engineering. “When the shoe’s on the other foot, GMP, Washington Electric and others – they come help us,” he said.
“There is a great mutual aid system and partnership In Vermont and the region across all utilities and we are thankful for assistance to help restore power after the wind storm slammed the state,” said Kristin Carlson, GMP’s Vice President of Strategic and External Affairs. “In addition to GMP crews, GMP had lined up external crews from around the region to be in Vermont before the storm hit. Along with VEC, we also have local teams from Ludlow Electric and Burlington Electric Department helping. Outages are now down to 3900 and we have more than 500 folks in the field working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”
The demand for utility mutual aid crews across the region spiked in early March, as nor’easters – Riley, Quinn and now Skylar - hammered southern and eastern New England.
About Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), established in 1938, is a non-profit, member-owned electric distribution utility that provides safe, affordable, and reliable electric service to approximately 32,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Nationally recognized for innovative and advanced use of technology, VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont.www.vermontelectric.coop
About Green Mountain Power
About Green Mountain Power Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with customers to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. In 2014, Vote Solar named GMP a Solar Champion. More information at:www.greenmountainpower.com. Connect with GMP onFacebookand follow us onTwitter @GreenMtnPower.
Source: COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power 4.6.2018