GMP Crews Make Great Progress After Massive Snowstorm Causes 76,000 Outages and Widespread Damage
Power Restored to More Than 42,000, Full Restoration Could Take Days
27 November 2018
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power is alerting customers that outages are still being reported as snow continues to fall and crews are still on the job to get the lights on. The massive storm that started Monday night packed high winds and then heavy wet snow that is tearing down power lines and trees and creating unsafe conditions across the state. Crews have faced dangerous driving and working conditions due to slippery roads and falling trees.
“Our crews are making progress, working to make repairs as quickly and safely as possible. This is a big event and it is far from over as the storm continues to cause new outages,” said Mary Powell, GMP’s president and CEO. “We’ve restored power to 42,000 of the 76,000 customers who lost it due to the storm, but getting to every last outage will take time. With advanced planning, we were able to more than double our field force with outside crews helping GMP crews to get the job done safely for customers.”
In addition to its team, GMP had extra crews on site to help when the storm hit. Right now, more than 600 people are out working to get power back on to customers, including more than 286 line workers, with teams from Massachusetts and Canada. Initially the storm slammed into Southern Vermont where the bulk of the outages are now in the Wilmington, Brattleboro area. The storm throughout the day moved North, causing extensive damage in the Royalton, Rutland and Montpelier area, with almost every district GMP serves seeing outages from the heavy wet snow.
Cooler temperatures tonight could harden the snow onto lines and trees, and more outages are possible. GMP crews are making progress and expect to have most customers on by Thursday, but some in the hardest hit areas could take until Friday. Green Mountain Power will provide updates on the storm on Facebook, Twitter and to the media.
To get the latest information on outages and restoration times, customers can sign up for text service alerts, by texting REG to 46788 or GMPVT, or signing up online at gmpsnapshot.greenmountainpower.com/textalerts. Customers can also sign up for GMP’s app to report outages with a touch of a finger at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search for GMP. Customers may also report outages by calling 1-888-835-4672, or visiting GMP’s Outage Center page at www.gmpsnapshot.greenmountainpower.com.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with them to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP was the only utility named to Fast Company’s 2018 list of Most Innovative Companies for Energy and is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. J.D. Power’s 2018 rankings also put GMP among top utilities for customer satisfaction.
Kristin Kelly, Green Mountain Power
(802) 318-0872
[email protected]