For more information:
Erica Erland, Clark Public Utilities
360-992-3238, [email protected]
CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES LENDS LINEMEN TO EAST COAST FOR DISASTER RECOVERY, SENDS TWO CREWS TO NEW JERSEY
VANCOUVER, WA – Oct. 31, 2012 – Clark Public Utilities joins electric companies across the country to aid in East Coast power outage restoration efforts. Two crews and one superintendent, a total of 11 employees, will join linemen from other regional utilities to assist FirstEnergy in New Jersey on Thursday, Nov. 1.
“In the electric industry, we know that a catastrophic weather event could happen at any time and can bring a system down in minutes,” said Wayne Nelson, Clark Public Utilities general manager. “The skills required to repair electric systems are highly specialized, it’s dangerous work and training takes years so when emergencies occur, it’s all hands on deck and we’re glad we can help.”
The crews will join other linemen on a chartered flight from Portland, Ore. to Newark, NJ, coordinated by a neighboring utility. Crews are traveling without vehicles or heavy tools and will serve as relief for New Jersey crews, using FirstEnergy equipment.
“The forecast for Clark County looks mild and manageable for the next two weeks and we have no concerns about the ability to respond to local emergencies while these crews assist others,” said Nelson “Our crews work year-round on both emergency and ongoing projects and this will postpone non-critical maintenance work until they return.”
About Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility that provides electric service to more than 183,000 customers throughout Clark County. The utility also provides water service to about 30,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas.
Clark Public Utilities is proud to be named a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 companies so named in the U.S. Additionally, Clark Public Utilities was ranked highest in customer satisfaction among midsize utilities in the west by J.D. Power and Associates in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.