CVPS wins national award for storm response

CVPS wins national award for storm response
SCOTTSDALE, AZ The worst storm in Central Vermont Public Service history brought national acclaim for the company, as CVPS recently received the electric industrys highest honor for emergency response.
CVPS President Bob Young was presented the Edison Electric Institutes Emergency Recovery Award for the companys response to the April 2007 noricane, a devastating storm with hurricane-force winds.
The company responded to unprecedented damage to its system by more than doubling its workforce overnight and effectively deploying those workers so that the power was back on as quickly as possible, with no injuries to workers or the public, said EEI President Thomas R. Kuhn. CVPSs effort in the face of this devastating storm offers a terrific example of a company bringing all of its resources to bear in order to get the lights back on.
In years past, this award has frequently been won by large regional utilities, but your storm response and safety record were remarkable, particularly for a relatively small company, Kuhn said. CVPS orchestrated an extraordinary response to what we hope was an once-in-a-lifetime storm.
The April noricane knocked out power to 68,000, or 42 percent, of CVPSs customers. CVPS brought in more than 200 outside line workers to assist the companys 90 line workers, and hundreds of CVPS accountants, lawyers and other employees took on support roles. Repair costs totaled $4.2 million.
The EEI Emergency Recovery Award is presented annually. Criteria include the ability to respond swiftly and efficiently, overcome difficult circumstances, utilize unique or innovative techniques, communicate effectively with customers, and restore service promptly. A panel of judges selected CVPS following an international nomination process. The award was presented during EEIs winter CEO meeting January 8, 2008.
In more than 20 years at CVPS, Ive never been more proud of our employees, Young said. We faced damage that far exceeded anything wed faced before, yet employees pulled together, executed our storm plan, developed mobile feeding and supply chains, and managed the recovery with extraordinary skill.
Weve made extensive improvements in our storm response over the past few years, and it paid off in the noricane, Young said. Employees, at great personal expense, did in five days what would have likely taken two or three times as long if the same storm hit 10 years ago.
Young said the award was a tribute to employees and the hundreds of workers who came to CVPSs aid, as well as state and local officials, customers, and local media outlets. The media did a tremendous job informing the public during the recovery, which made our job much easier, Young said. And state and local officials and customers did everything possible to assist us, for which we are extremely grateful.
Governor Jim Douglas congratulated the company.
Vermonters have a powerful reputation for their dedication to neighbors, whether next door or in the next state. I am proud to see employees of Central Vermont Public Service continue that spirit and service, the governor said. On behalf of all Vermonters, I congratulate CVPS for receiving recognition from the Edison Electric Institute for their recovery efforts, and for rendering assistance to other utilities in their time of need.
Chris Gandin, operations manager in Rutland, said the storm showed the employee resolve and commitment he sees daily.
Its hard for people to understand all that goes into operating the electrical system in a rural territory like ours, especially when bad weather hits, Gandin said. The storm put the spotlight on people who dedicate themselves to customers every day, so the award will be really meaningful to employees.