- GMP urges safety for customers as the hazardous weather continues
- Forecast calling for heavy rain, thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail, flash floods
- Combination of saturated ground, high wind, and water could topple trees, increasing potential for outages
- GMP field forces ready to respond
Vermont Business Magazine Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) are urging safety and alerting customers that forecasters are calling for severe thunderstorms with wind gusts and possible flash floods starting Thursday afternoon. The already saturated ground from the historic flooding increases the potential for power outages.
GMP crews, along with external contractors, have been on the job throughout the week’s damaging weather managing water and restoring power to over 29,000 customers already.
“We want customers to be alert to changing weather conditions and to be safe,” said Mike Burke, Vice President of Field Operations for GMP. “We are ready to respond as quickly as safely possible. Crews and customers have already encountered challenging conditions during the historic weather this week, and it is not over yet. The ground is waterlogged, and water is still running high, even as more rain is forecasted.”
GMP is urging safety for customers as the storm continues. Road conditions are hazardous in places with closures from the flooding. Always stay far away from any downed trees or lines and call GMP and first responders to report damage.
“Please make preparations as soon as possible for power outages,” said Jake Brown, VEC Energy Services Planner. Brown noted that restoration of outages could also be hampered by poor road conditions related to the recent flooding. “As always, if you come across down power lines stay clear.”
Here are tips to be prepared:
- Build/restock emergency kit with flashlights, headlamps, extra batteries and a first aid kit
- Stock potable water
- Charge devices and fuel vehicles
- If necessary, plan for medical needs/devices
VEC posts estimated restoration of outages at https://outages.vermontelectric.coop/
VEC will post additional updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VERMONTELECTRICCOOP
Find road conditions/closures here: https://newengland511.org/region/Vermont
Using the GMP app is a convenient way to report outages, track restoration, and manage your GMP account. You can also report outages through the Outage Center on GMP’s website or call GMP at 888-835-4672. More storm preparation and safety tips are available on GMP’s website.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power serves more than 270,000 residential and business customers in Vermont with electricity that’s 100% carbon free and 78% renewable on an annual basis, and GMP is partnering with customers to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is providing solutions to cut carbon and is delivering electricity that is clean, affordable, and always on. 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 2022, GMP was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies. Fast Company named GMP one of the top five Most Innovative Companies in North America in 2022. GMP also earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list in the energy sector four years in a row, and in 2023 and 2021 the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) honored GMP as a nationwide leader in energy transformation.
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 33,000 members in 75 communities in northern Vermont. Committed to a 100 percent carbon-free power supply, VEC is nationally recognized for innovative and advanced use of technology. VEC is the largest locally-owned electric distribution utility in Vermont. www.vermontelectric.coop
Source: GMP & VEC. 7.13.2023.
