GMP Ready to Respond While Crews Follow Additional Health and Safety Precautions During COVID-19 Pandemic
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) is prepared to respond as quickly and safely as possible for customers as forecasters predict potential scattered outages due to a storm bringing in the possibility of several inches of heavy wet snow to Vermont. GMP tracks multiple forecasts to be able to most effectively respond for customers during evolving weather situations, and now with COVID-19, also made operations adjustments to increase safety for crews and customers including social distancing. GMP is also encouraging customers to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from crews, following CDC social distancing guidelines for health and safety.
Forecasters say scattered outages are possible starting this afternoon as wet snow is expected to accumulate in some areas of Vermont, potentially bringing down trees and power lines. Southern, central and eastern Vermont could see the most snow accumulation according to meteorologists. Travel could also be tricky, and GMP is urging caution for anyone who has to be on the roads.
In response to COVID-19, last week GMP modified field operations to ensure field crews are available to respond to outages to continue to provide this critical service to customers and the state. Crews are being dispatched to essential safety work, like outages, from their homes, when possible crews are traveling to work sites in separate vehicles, and GMP suspended all non-essential work. The health and safety of GMP customers and employees is why GMP implemented these changes for field crews, and they are just some of the steps the company is taking to increase Vermonters’ well-being as the pandemic evolves. GMP has a webpage with details dedicated to the latest updates on the company’s response to COVID-19.
GMP is also reminding customers to be prepared, stay away from downed lines and trees, and to call GMP at (888) 835-4672. For medical emergencies, call 911. Vermont’s 211 service can help connect you with health and well-being resources. Storm preparation and safety tips can be found in our Safety Guide.
You can also report outages and track restoration times in GMP’s Outage Center.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 266,000 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 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. GMP earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list four years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). J.D. Power’s 2018 and 2019 rankings put GMP among top utilities for customer satisfaction. In 2019 and 2020 GMP was named “One of the Best Places To Work in Vermont” by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and was the winner of the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year Award in 2019.
Kristin Kelly, Green Mountain Power
(802) 318-0872
[email protected]