SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has deployed an emergency Incident Command Team to Puerto Rico as part of an electric industry mutual-aid effort to repair infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Maria and restore electric service to island residents.
A team of 11 PG&E emergency-management experts and field personnel from across the company’s service area will be in Puerto Rico landing this weekend. They'll be part of a large group of key personnel from mainland energy companies who are mobilizing to help restore electrical service to the island. It will be a 30-day deployment. In all, seven Incident Management Teams from mainland energy companies will be in place.
“Similar to our support of Florida during Hurricane Irma, PG&E has committed to help Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. We know that electrical service is critical to the health and well-being of the community. We have an incredible, dedicated team willing to give up a December at home with their families and friends to work on hurricane recovery so that others might be able to better enjoy the holidays. I know our employees will be focused on the joint effort with other agencies there to get the job done safely and effectively,” said PG&E Corporation CEO and President Geisha Williams.
The effort is being coordinated by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the industry group of electric energy companies, and includes teams from other energy companies in addition to PG&E.
“Since our industry first received the request for mutual assistance, we have been working aggressively to provide crews, equipment, materials, expertise and additional resources to assist with the massive power restoration mission,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn.
“EEI and our member companies remain fully committed to doing all we can to assist our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico,” he added.
Hurricane Maria is the 10th most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. It was a Category 4 storm when it hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20. It resulted in more than 500 deaths, untold injuries and catastrophic destruction across the Caribbean.
Earlier this year, more than 125 PG&E personnel spent three weeks in Florida, helping to restore power after Hurricane Irma.
Once on the island, the PG&E team will coordinate with local authorities, other energy companies, EEI, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the American Public Power Association and others.
In November, an advance crew of two PG&E employees spent two weeks on Puerto Rico. Both logistics experts, they helped local officials prepare for an influx of crews and material.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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