Utilities still working to restore power to Puerto Rico

 

POSTED ON Feb 19, 2018

 

Since the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) put out a call for help early November, the Edison Electric Institute and its member companies have been working to assist power restoration efforts on the island.

Line mechanics, crew leaders, safety personnel –- and bucket trucks –- from Exelon’s six utilities are on their way to Puerto Rico to add even more resources to the electric industry effort to restore power to the island.

Crews from Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), one of Exelon’s six utilities, is deploying crews to Puerto Rico as part of a contingent of Exelon utilities responding to the request to provide mutual assistance.

Twenty-one BGE line workers and support staff join sister utilities – Atlantic City Electric, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO, and Pepco.

In advance of their departure, BGE vehicles including bucket trucks, are being transported via barge to the island. Those vehicles are expected to arrive in Puerto Rico in early February.

“We are happy to provide assistance to the people of Puerto Rico and do so without jeopardizing our ability to respond to outages in our central Maryland service area, said Stephen J. Woerner, president and chief operating officer of BGE. “Our employees look forward to helping Puerto Rico rebuild its electric system and are committed to making a significant impact in getting Puerto Rico back to normal.”

In addition to deploying restoration crews to Puerto Rico and other areas affected by recent hurricanes, BGE employees, along with the Exelon Foundation, have contributed more than $800,000 to disaster relief efforts, including aid to Puerto Rico.

According to BGE, the departure was personal for two employees, Faviola Donato-Galindo, a senior external affairs specialist and Rafael Olazagasti, manager, vegetation management, who are both natives of Puerto Rico.

Watch them share their thoughts on the mutual assistance mission here.