Skip to main content

Charleston Business

SCE&G Wins Award

Jan 10, 2018 01:51PM ● By Kathleen Maris

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) awarded SCE&G the association’s “Emergency Recovery Award” for its outstanding power restoration efforts after Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

The award is presented to EEI member companies to recognize their efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.

SCE&G prepared for Hurricane Irma by mobilizing approximately 2,500 crews to aid in restoration efforts. An additional 650 off-system linemen and resources were ready before the storm in case more assistance was necessary. Hurricane Irma moved through South Carolina on Sept. 11, bringing high winds and rain that left 154,000 SCE&G customers without power. By late the next day, crews had restored power to more than 140,000 of those customers. SCE&G frequently communicated with customers by sharing safety messages, preparedness information, and restoration updates through local media and the company’s social media channels.

“The tireless work by SCE&G crews during Hurricane Irma exemplifies our industry’s commitment to customer service,” said EEI president Tom Kuhn. “While many SCE&G employees were impacted by the storm, crews worked diligently and often in dangerous conditions to restore service to customers safely and as quickly as possible. The dedicated crews of SCE&G are very deserving of this award.”