CALGARY, Sept. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - Following the devastation
arising from Hurricane Irma, FortisAlberta will deploy 19 employees
to support sister utility FortisTCI in its extensive power outage
restoration efforts in Turks and Caicos.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends and colleagues
at FortisTCI and all Turks and Caicos residents," says Cam Aplin, Vice President, Operations,
FortisAlberta. "FortisTCI is an extension of the Fortis family and
we are proud to be able to support the restoration efforts and get
their customers' power back on as quickly and safely as
possible."
Joining Aplin from FortisAlberta are 15 power line technicians,
two area managers and one heavy duty mechanic, who will depart for
Turks and Caicos as soon as the airport reopens. In total, Fortis
utilities will send approximately 60 employees to help in the
restoration efforts including resources from FortisBC,
FortisOntario, Maritime Electric and Newfoundland Power.
The comprehensive restoration will prioritize restoring power to
critical infrastructure such as water supply systems, as well as to
emergency response organizations like fire, police, hospitals and
shelters. All other efforts will be organized and prioritized once
on the ground.
This is the ninth emergency response effort of this kind for
Fortis utilities, with the two most recent being due to Hurricanes
Igor (2010, Newfoundland Power) and Ike (2008, Turks and
Caicos).
About FortisAlberta
As owner and operator of more than 60 per cent of Alberta's total electricity distribution
network, FortisAlberta's focus is delivering safe and reliable
electricity to more than 550,000 residential, farm and business
customers. The Company serves more than 200 communities with
122,000 kilometres of distribution power lines across Alberta.
FortisAlberta is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the
North American regulated electric and gas utility
industry. For further information visit
www.fortisinc.com.
SOURCE FORTISALBERTA INC