SCE&G earns “Emergency Recovery Award” for efforts to restore service after Hurricane Irma
January 10, 2018
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today awarded SCE&G the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its outstanding power restoration efforts after Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
“I am extremely proud of how SCE&G employees banned together and worked in some tough conditions to restore power to customers before, during and after the storm,” said SCE&G president and COO Keller Kissam. “One of our core values is to excel in customer service and safety. Our employees always go above and beyond for customers and what they did during Hurricane Irma was just another example of their drive, resiliency and determination to serve.”
The award is presented to EEI member companies to recognize their extraordinary efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.
SCE&G prepared for Hurricane Irma by mobilizing approximately 2,500 crews to aid in restoration efforts. An additional 650 off-system linemen and resources were ready before the storm in case more assistance was necessary. Hurricane Irma moved through South Carolina on Sept. 11, bringing high winds, rain which left 154,000 SCE&G customers without power. By late the next day, crews had restored power to more than 140,000 of those customers. SCE&G frequently communicated with customers by sharing safety messages, preparedness information and restoration updates through local media and the company’s social media channels.
“The tireless work by SCE&G crews during Hurricane Irma exemplifies our industry’s commitment to customer service,” said EEI president Tom Kuhn. “While many SCE&G employees were impacted by the storm, crews worked diligently and often in dangerous conditions to restore service to customers safely and as quickly as possible. The dedicated crews of SCE&G are very deserving of this award.”
About SCE&G
South Carolina Electric & Gas Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 717,000 customers in 24 counties in the central, southern and southwestern portions of South Carolina. The company also provides natural gas service to approximately 362,000 customers in 35 counties in the state.
About EEI
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Its members provide electricity for 200 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 700 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to its U.S. members, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.
