E.ON U.S. Heroes Tackle Ice Storm

Featuring:
E.ON U.S.
Energy Delivery and Transmission Groups

The Story:

The January 2009 ice storm was Kentucky's worst natural disaster and the most damaging in the 170-year history of E.ON U.S. companies. E.ON U.S. provides natural gas, electricity and retail services to 1.2 million customers in Kentucky and Virginia through its subsidiaries Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities companies. The storm dumped a foot of snow and three inches of ice in some areas of the state. Extreme ice loading caused 769,000 outages statewide, 686,000 of which were E.ON U.S. customers. Of 120 Kentucky counties, 101 (served by E.ON U.S.) declared a state of emergency.

The storm began January 26, and E.ON U.S. launched its crisis management process, calling to action over 6,000 field operations employees and workers representing utilities and contractors from 21 states. About 700 other E.ON U.S. employees provided support services. Safety, as always, was the priority. Freezing weather and treacherous conditions created many hazards that were complicated by the number of workers. The company quickly initiated aggressive safety measures, including "passporting," or safety training, of all 5,000 visiting workers.

The storm downed 20,414 wires, broke 2,293 poles and affected 270 circuits and 146 substations on the distribution system. It broke 161 poles and steel towers, downed 368 wire spans, and affected 105 circuits and 62 substations on the transmission system. Crews worked continuously to rebuild the system and restore power. Employees at statewide call centers and business offices received nearly 695,000 calls. In Western Kentucky, office employees worked by candlelight and served as contacts for customers as most communication was out.

By mid-February, crews restored power to most customers in less time than predicted. E.ON U.S. workers were hailed as heroes for the second time since September 2008, when they overcame damage from the Ike wind storm - the company's most destructive storm to that point!

Submitted by: David  Guy, E.ON U.S.

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