Toronto Hydro hosts first North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group Conference in Canada

Canadian and American utilities come together ahead of storm season

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro is proud to welcome utilities from Canada and the U.S. to Toronto for the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group (NAMAG) 2015 Fall Conference. Hosted for the first time in Canada, the NAMAG Conference brings together utilities in the north-east that have formally agreed to provide each other assistance during emergencies.

At the conference, members will work on strengthening the processes that facilitate mutual aid through panel discussions, presentations and reviews. Topics of discussion include underground mutual aid, Canada-USA border crossing protocols, and a review of recent storm performance and lessons learned.

We have a history of working with neighbouring utilities. During the 2013 ice storm, we received help from utilities across Canada. A year later, our crews helped restore power to more than 180,000 customers in New Hampshire after a powerful snowstorm. As of October 2014, we officially became a NAMAG member.

Through the NAMAG Conference, we and our fellow utilities will build a tight network that strengthens mutual aid and emergency preparedness planning and response.

The conference begins today and runs until October 28 at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Toronto. 

QUICK FACTS

• NAMAG is a consortium of 26 utilities from across the North Atlantic that have signed an agreement to share resources during an emergency, like the 2013 ice storm, tropical storms, hurricanes, and other disasters
• Utilities attending the NAMAG Conference include PowerStream, Hydro One, Hydro Quebec, Emera, New Brunswick Power, Saint John Energy, Eversource Energy, First Energy, ConEd, National Grid, PEPCO Holdings, PSEG and Exelon, to name a few
• Ten different utilities from across Canada, including Manitoba Hydro, arrived in Toronto to help restore power after the 2013 ice storm
• Toronto Hydro crews travelled to New York State in 2012 to assist with power restoration following hurricane Sandy

QUOTES

"From floods to ice storms, Mother Nature impacts both Canadian and American utilities and their customers. That's why it's important for us to work together ahead of time. The NAMAG Conference gives utilities a chance to build strong relationships that we can rely on during emergencies."
- John Borowitz, General Manager, Distribution Grid Operations and Emergency Management, Toronto Hydro  

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 747,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 19% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation

Tori Gass, Communications and Public Relations, 416-903-4037, [email protected]; 24-hours media line: 416-903-6845, [email protected]