Business Manager Tom Dalzell (left) and PG&E CEO Geisha Williams (center) accepted the award from from EEI President Tom Kuhn. Photo courtesy of EEI
During its annual convention in Boston, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) awarded PG&E with its 2017 Emergency Recovery Award, specifically in regards to the highly efficient and rapid response during the severe winter storms that walloped California earlier this year. EEI’s Emergency Recovery Award recognizes utilities that have taken extraordinary efforts to restore power in times of crisis.
“While everyone else was hunkered down, waiting for the storms to pass, our members were working around the clock, in rain, sleet, snow and hail, to bring the power back on for millions of California residents,” said IBEW 1245 Business Manager Tom Dalzell. “This past winter was the worst one we’ve seen in 91 years, but the hard-working men and women of Local 1245 were unfazed; they simply did what they had to do. We are incredibly proud of the work that our members at PG&E accomplished this past winter, and we’re pleased to see them being recognized by the EEI.”
According to PG&E, the utility experienced a record number of storms, with the highest recorded impact to customers in the past nine years. Extreme flooding, high winds, mudslides, road closures and other storm-related damage made restoration work extremely challenging, but crews succeeded in restoring power to more than two million customers, generally in 24 hours or less.
The EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. This is PG&E’s fifth recovery or assistance award from EEI in the past 10 years. Dalzell joined PG&E CEO Geisha Williams to accept the EEI award in Boston on June 13.