SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Edison Electric Institute today honored Ameren Corporation as a winner of the association's "Emergency Recovery Award" for outstanding efforts to restore electric power in the wake of two severe ice storms during the space of six weeks in late 2006 and early 2007.
EEI's "Emergency Recovery Award" is presented annually to recognize outstanding efforts in restoring electric service that has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events. Winners are chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEI's winter CEO meetings in Arizona today.
The two winter storms, of a severity rarely seen in Ameren companies' affected service region, together caused outages to more than 1.1 million customers in and around the company's Missouri and Illinois territories.
Extreme and dangerous icy conditions during both storms made restoration work especially challenging for Ameren companies' employees. However, the company aggressively and strategically deployed more than 4,000 electrical workers and 1,400 tree and vegetation workers, as well as hundreds of other employees, during each storm. Ameren companies also maintained almost constant communications with customers both directly and via the news media throughout both restoration efforts.
"Ameren's outstanding response in the face of two history-making ice storms offers a terrific example of a company using all of its resources in order to restore electricity service even in highly unusual and unfavorable circumstances," said EEI President Thomas R. Kuhn. "The company's preparedness for both storms and its strategic yet aggressive approach in highly unfavorable conditions are a testament to our industry's dedication to getting the lights back on as soon as possible after devastating storms like these."
Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of United States investor-owned electric utilities and industry affiliates and associates worldwide. Its domestic members generate approximately three-quarters of all the electricity generated by electric utilities in the country and serve about 70 percent of all ultimate customers in the nation.
SOURCE: Edison Electric Institute
CONTACT: Ed Legge of Edison Electric Institute , +1-202-508-5074
Web site: http://www.ameren.com/