Submitted Photo From left, John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid; EEI President Tom Kuhn; and Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts accept the EEI Emergency Assistance Award for Upstate New York at the EEI Awards Ceremony in Florida.

The Edison Electric Institute today presented National Grid with the EEI Emergency Assistance Award for the company’s outstanding power restoration efforts after severe thunderstorms and five tornadoes impacted neighboring upstate New York utilities in May 2018.

EEI presents the award to recognize select companies’ efforts in power restoration after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. Following an international nomination process, a panel of judges selects the winners. This is National Grid’s 20th EEI emergency response award.

“Emergency response is a hallmark of our industry and our company. We take great pride in serving our customers in New York and New England and in supporting other utilities — within our local region and as far away as Puerto Rico — following these types of devastating weather events,” said Ken Daly, National Grid’s Chief Operating Officer- Electric. “The men and women of National Grid’s upstate New York team are honored to receive this recognition for their tireless restoration efforts and commitment to serving customers.”

In May 2018, severe thunderstorms and multiple confirmed macro-bursts impacted portions of the Catskills, mid-Hudson Valley, Taconics and beyond. There were five confirmed tornadoes and winds recorded in excess of 110 mph. National Grid quickly offered assistance and supported Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Avangrid/NYSEG, Con-Edison and Eversource by sending 334 company and contract overhead line, tree and transmission employees and more than 180 utility vehicles. The work support included more than 30,000 hours over a five-day period.

“The dedicated crews from National Grid are truly deserving of this recognition for their tremendous efforts to restore service in difficult conditions and to assist neighboring electric companies in times of need,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “National Grid’s restoration efforts and its assistance during these storms illustrate our industry’s unwavering commitment to serving our customers and to providing mutual assistance.”