EEI Emergency Response Awards

The EEI Emergency Response Awards recognize member companies that put forth outstanding efforts to restore service promptly to the public following a natural disaster (Recovery Award). Members may also be nominated for assisting another company in its response (Assistance Award).

Nominations

Any EEI member company (U.S. electric company or International Affiliate) is eligible and may nominate itself or any other EEI member. For 2008, nominations will be accepted from November 1 to January 8, 2009, covering the period from October 2007 through December 2008; the awards will be presented in March.

The nomination form must be:

• approved by the chief executive officer of an EEI member company
• accompanied by the attached questionnaire and a summary of no more than three pages, and
• received at EEI by the deadline.

Nomination Form/Questionnaire - Below is a nomination form in MS Word format.  Part A is to be completed for the Recovery Award submissions and Part B is for Assistance Award submissions.  This document can be submitted by mail or e-mail.  

• Nomination Form/Questionnaire   (NOTE:  The 2007 Nominations were due November 2, 2007) The 2008 Nomination Form will be similar to this form from 2007, and will be posted by September 30.

Selection Criteria

A panel of judges, including former EEI chairmen, will review the nominations and select the companies to be recognized.  Selection will be based on the company's ability to respond swiftly and efficiently, overcome difficult circumstances, utilize unique or innovative techniques, communicate effectively with customers, and restore service promptly.  Awards are announced and presented at the EEI CEO Conference in March.

EEI Staff Representatives

Eddie Ortiz, Coordinator, Member Relations, eortiz@eei.org or 202-508-5650

Brian Farrell, Director, Member Relations, bfarrell@eei.org or 202-508-5649

2007 Award Recipients—Announced January 9, 2008

Emergency Recovery Award

The following companies were recognized for exceptional efforts restoring power in the wake of severe storms that struck their service territories in the 2006/2007 award year.  These companies suffered substantial and sometimes repeated damage, and did an outstanding job restoring power under adverse circumstances. 

• Alliant Energy - Interstate Power and Light (Winter Storm - February 2007)
• Ameren Corporation (Ice Storms - 2006-2007)
• Central Vermont Public Service (Nor'icane - April 2007)
• Commonwealth Edison Company (August Blast - 2007)
• The Empire District Electric Company (Ice Storm - January 2007)
• Public Service Company of Oklahoma (Ice Storm - January 2007)
  

Emergency Assistance Award

In addition, the following companies were recognized for outstanding efforts assisting in the recovery efforts of their fellow utilities.  These companies journeyed many miles to stricken areas providing equipment, workers and expert assistance to rebuild lines, replace poles, and get the lights back on.

• American Electric Power (Twelve Storms - 2006-2007)
• CenterPoint Energy (Four Storms - 2007)
• Entergy Corporation (Oklahoma Ice Storm - 2007)
• FirstEnergy Corporation (August Blast, Chicago - 2007)
• Indianapolis Power & Light (Three Storms - 2007)
• Kansas City Power & Light (Five Storms - 2007)
• OG&E (Four Storms - 2006-2007)
• Westar Energy (Six Winter Storms - 2007)

Past Winners

Listed below are recent winners of the "Emergency Recovery Award" and the "Emergency Assistance Award," along with the specific disasters to which they responded:

2006 Emergency Recovery Award Winners

• Ameren Corporation (Thunderstorms and Tornados - July 2006)
• Duke Energy (Ice Storm - December 2005)
• Hydro One Networks (Ontario's Summer of Storms - 2006)
• National Grid ("October Surprise" Snowstorm - 2006)
• New York State Electric & Gas ("October Surprise" Snowstorm - 2006)
• NorthWestern Energy (Ice Storm and Blizzard - November 2005)
  

2006 Emergency Assistance Award Winners

• American Electric Power (Nineteen Events - Fourteen States - 2006)
• Entergy (Thunderstorms -- Missouri and Illinois - July 2006)
• FirstEnergy Corp. ("October Surprise" Snowstorm - New York - 2006)
• Georgia Power Company (Hurricane Ernesto-Virginia - September 2006)
• Indianapolis Power & Light (Thunderstorms and Snowstorms -- MI, KY, IL, & MO - 2006)

2005 Emergency Response Award Winners

• Mississippi Power Company (for Hurricane Katrina)
• Alabama Power Company (for Hurricanes Katrina and Dennis)
• CenterPoint Energy (for Hurricane Rita)
• Cleco Power (for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita)
• Entergy (for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita)
• Florida Power & Light (for Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma)
• Gulf Power Company (for Hurricane Dennis)
• Indiana Michigan Power (for January 2005 Ice Storm)

2005 Emergency Assistance Award Winners 

A special Emergency Recovery Award was also presented to EEI International Affiliate member Caribbean Utilities Company for their efforts in recovering from Hurricane Ivan. 

© 2008 Edison Electric Institute