FortisAlberta to deploy employees to help in Turks & Caicos restoration efforts
CALGARY, Sept. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Following the devastation arising from Hurricane Irma, FortisAlberta will deploy 19 employees to support sister utility FortisTCI in its extensive power outage restoration efforts in Turks and Caicos.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends and colleagues at FortisTCI and all Turks and Caicos residents," says Cam Aplin, Vice President, Operations, FortisAlberta. "FortisTCI is an extension of the Fortis family and we are proud to be able to support the restoration efforts and get their customers' power back on as quickly and safely as possible."
Joining Aplin from FortisAlberta are 15 power line technicians, two area managers and one heavy duty mechanic, who will depart for Turks and Caicos as soon as the airport reopens. In total, Fortis utilities will send approximately 60 employees to help in the restoration efforts including resources from FortisBC, FortisOntario, Maritime Electric and Newfoundland Power.
The comprehensive restoration will prioritize restoring power to critical infrastructure such as water supply systems, as well as to emergency response organizations like fire, police, hospitals and shelters. All other efforts will be organized and prioritized once on the ground.
This is the ninth emergency response effort of this kind for Fortis utilities, with the two most recent being due to Hurricanes Igor (2010, Newfoundland Power) and Ike (2008, Turks and Caicos).
About FortisAlberta
As owner and operator of more than 60 per cent of Alberta's total electricity distribution network, FortisAlberta's focus is delivering safe and reliable electricity to more than 550,000 residential, farm and business customers. The Company serves more than 200 communities with 122,000 kilometres of distribution power lines across Alberta.
FortisAlberta is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.
SOURCE FORTISALBERTA INC
Communications Contact: Jennifer MacGowan, Director, Customer and Corporate Relations, FortisAlberta Inc., Office: 403-514-4079, Cell: 403-815-1740, [email protected]
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