EWEB crew heads to New Jersey to help restore power
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EUGENE, Ore. - A dozen Eugene Water & Electric Board linemen will fly to New Jersey on Thursday morning to help East Coast utility crews restore power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
They join Red Cross volunteers from Eugene and other Oregon cities who have deployed to the storm-ravaged Eastern United States.
With more than 6 million people without power, EWEB and other utilities across the nation are being asked to help with power restoration efforts.
While EWEB and other Northwest utilities routinely come to one another’s aid following heavy storms, it is uncommon for West Coast crews to travel across the country to help restore power, the utility said.
But with severe natural catastrophes such as Hurricane Sandy, utilities are answering the nationwide call for help.
“The whole concept of mutual aid is critical to the entire utility industry,” said Roger Gray, EWEB General Manager. “Sometimes we give the help and sometimes we receive the help. Our customers are better off when utilities support each other.”
When a snowstorm hit the Eugene area last March and caused widespread power outages, for example, Newport-based Central Lincoln PUD sent crews to assist EWEB’s restoration efforts.
Likewise, EWEB crews went to Northern California last winter to help restore power following widespread outages.
Before agreeing to send the crews east, EWEB first checked the local 10-14 day forecast to be sure no big storms were on the horizon for Lane County.
Other local utilities - including Emerald PUD, Lane Electric Cooperative, Blachly-Lane and Springfield Utility Board - agreed to help EWEB if unexpected problems occur while the crews are in New Jersey.
“Knowing that our neighbors can helps us allows EWEB to commit to help folks on the East Coast,” Gray said. “We all do our part.”
As part of the mutual aid agreement, all costs incurred by the EWEB crews (including labor, overtime, food, transportation, and accommodations) will be reimbursed by the New Jersey utility receiving the help.
I am glad they are helping, that is what it is all about. They have the skills, there is a need, and they are filling that need. We will all end up paying anyway in the form of higher homeowners insurance and any other way they can figure to pass the cost on, but these people didn't bring this on, and they need help. If the shoe was on the other foot I am sure they would send the help.
so i should expect another rate increase to offset the cost of helping others?
@Durk Strombaucher do you have no reading comprehension? the article clearly states all costs are to be paid by the affected power companies.