ST. LOUIS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren workers across Illinois and Missouri are heading to the East Coast this morning to assist in repairing damage and restoring power outages in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias.
Approximately 50 Ameren Illinois personnel and 70 contractor personnel, including linemen, fleet, logistics and safety will assist crews from Eversource Energy in Connecticut. Ameren Missouri is sending more than 125 co-worker and contractor resources from across the state to assist Eversource and Public Service Enterprise Group in New Jersey.
"We have extensive experience in restoration efforts in Illinois. We will rely on that experience to answer the call for people in the greater Connecticut area," said Richard Mark, chairman and president, Ameren Illinois. "My thoughts and prayers are with those in the aftermath of the hurricane and for all personnel traveling to respond to this event."
"When a major weather event affects the United States, Ameren Missouri stands ready to lend a hand," said Marty Lyons, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. "Ameren customers in both Missouri and Illinois have benefited many times from mutual aid from sister utilities following storms here in the Midwest, and we are glad that the expertise, skill and dedication of our co-workers and contractors will be there for other Americans in need, now and through the remainder of hurricane season."
Ameren response personnel and crew are taking extra precautions to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19. Preventive actions, such as social distancing and use of protective eyewear and gloves, are being implemented.
Hurricane Isaias made landfall on the evening of Aug. 3 near Myrtle Beach, N.C., as a Category 1 hurricane bringing with it sustained winds of 90 miles per hour. Millions of people are without power along the East Coast.
Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri are voluntary members of the electric power industry's mutual assistance network through the Edison Electric Institute. When called upon, a company will send either company employees, contractors or both, along with specialized equipment to help with the restoration efforts of a fellow company. In essence, it allows a utility hit by a major or catastrophic storm to expand its workforce by borrowing field personnel from other companies in unaffected areas. Ameren has helped with catastrophic events such as Hurricane Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
About Ameren
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution service, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn/company/Ameren.
SOURCE Ameren Corporation
