Hydro Ottawa crews assist in Québec restoration efforts

OTTAWA, June 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, Hydro Ottawa deployed crews and equipment to assist Hydro-Québec with power restoration to more than 150,000 customers. Approximately 24 Hydro Ottawa employees will be arriving in the Papineauville area later this afternoon, and are expected to be there for the next several days.

The power outages are a result of widespread damage to Hydro-Québec's overhead lines and power system due to strong winds that swept across south-eastern Canada, Monday, June 20^th. The City of Ottawa experienced multiple outages across the city, but was fortunate to avoid the brunt of the storm and damage.

In January 2016 Hydro Ottawa announced its membership with the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group (NAMAG), made up of 29 neighbouring utilities across north-east Canada and the United States. The partnership enables utilities to quickly deliver not-for-profit assistance in times of crisis.

Quick Facts

• NAMAG provides enhanced lines of communications between member companies to share best practices and plan for significant events.
• Mutual assistance agreements minimize financial risk for all members with a not-for-profit understanding with requesting utilities agreeing to reimburse responding companies for all expenses incurred when providing the assistance.
• In February 2016, Hydro Ottawa dispatched restoration crews to Québec after a significant winter storm caused outages to more than 150,000 customers.
• When a significant ice storm caused outages to hundreds of thousands of customers in eastern and central Ontario over the Christmas holidays of 2013, Hydro Ottawa sent crews to assist with restoration efforts.
• In 2012, Hydro Ottawa dispatched restoration crews to Connecticut and New Jersey during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Quotes

"When our neighbours are in need of assistance, like the residents of Québec are today, I know I can count on our skilled crews to volunteer. The days and nights performing restoration work to overhead lines are long and tough, but our folks in orange have a history of doing the right thing, and an unbreakable commitment to helping others. I know they'll assist our neighbours in making a speedy recovery."
- Bryce Conrad, President and Chief Executive Officer

About Hydro Ottawa

Hydro Ottawa's core businesses are delivering electricity, generating renewable power and providing energy conservation/management services. Hydro Ottawa is a community-owned, private company, delivering electricity to more than 325,000 customers in Ottawa and Casselman. It is the largest municipally-owned producer of green power in the province, with hydroelectric and landfill gas-to-energy generating facilities. Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc. (Hydro Ottawa) owns and operates two subsidiary companies, Hydro Ottawa Limited and Energy Ottawa Inc.

SOURCE Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

Video with caption: "Hydro Ottawa crews leave to assist Hydro-Québec in their restoration efforts after a severe summer storm caused power outages to more than 150,000 residents.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20160621_C8657_VIDEO_EN_718933.mp4&posterurl=http%3a%2f%2fphotos.newswire.ca%2fimages%2f20160621_C8657_PHOTO_EN_718933.jpg&order=1&jdd=20160621&cnum=C8657

For further information: Media contact: Daniel Séguin, Manager, Media and Public Affairs, Hydro Ottawa, Tel: [phone] ext. 345, [email protected]com; www.hydroottawa.com