Electric Power Industry Prepares for Hurricane Harvey

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Harvey begins to impact Texas and the Gulf Coast, electric companies in the storm's path are prepared to respond to customer power outages assuming conditions are safe to do so. Affected companies and mutual assistance crews are staging in the potentially impacted regions, and additional crews are en route to support restoration efforts.

"Hurricane Harvey is expected to be a long-duration and historic event," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "Strong winds, significant rain fall, and storm surges have the potential to cause dangerous flooding and extended power outages. Companies in the path of Hurricane Harvey have been preparing for days by pre-staging restoration workers and equipment. It is important to remember that power restoration efforts could be slowed by prolonged high winds and dangerous flooding conditions. Damaged homes and businesses also may need to be individually inspected to ensure they are able to safely receive power. As always, safety is our industry's number one priority, and crews will work around the clock to restore power as soon as conditions allow."

The CEO-led Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council (ESCC) also is monitoring Hurricane Harvey to ensure unity of effort across the highest levels of industry and government. Should additional coordination become necessary, the ESCC is standing ready to support restoration efforts. "Our industry values its partnership with the federal government, which has strengthened significantly following Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Matthew," added Kuhn.

Electricity customers in the path of the storm are urged to heed warnings from their local and state officials and to be prepared for the possibility of sustained power outages. If ordered to evacuate, customers should do so immediately. Please take extreme caution in the storm and be watchful of downed power lines that may be concealed by storm debris.

EEI's Storm Center includes a map to company outage centers, as well as real-time information and updates on response and restoration progress. Customers also can find storm preparation tips, flood safety tips, and an overview of the response and restoration process. Customers can follow EEI on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies, with operations in more than 90 countries, as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members. Organized in 1933, EEI provides public policy leadership, strategic business intelligence, and essential conferences and forums.

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SOURCE Edison Electric Institute