EEI President Appears on CNBC to Discuss Winter Fern Storm Response
Drew Maloney, president and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), appeared on CNBC to discuss how America’s electric companies are responding to Winter Storm Fern. Maloney highlighted the industry’s rapid, coordinated restoration efforts, including the deployment of more than 65,000 mutual assistance workers and support personnel from across the United States, as well as close coordination with federal, state, and local officials to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.
During his appearance on CNBC, Maloney discussed:
- Industry's strong preparation: “America's electric companies are really well positioned to deal with this-we started working on and having coordinating calls last week.”
- Value of mutual assistance: “We have more than 65,000 crews and workers out there from around the country—[including from] areas that are unaffected—that are pitching in to help get power restored as quickly as possible.”
- Unified coordination and response: “It's really a unified effort. I think it's really important for everyone to understand the coordination with federal, state, and local officials … to get power up as quickly as possible during this historic ice storm.”
Visit the EEI Storm Center for the latest storm updates at eei.org.
How to Keep Your Customers Safe During Winter Storm Fern
Customers affected by the winter storm are reminded to:
- Stay away from downed or sagging power lines and debris. Treat all fallen wires and anything touching them as though they are energized. Immediately report downed lines to your electric company.
- Remember that ice is heavy, and branches and trees can fall long after the storm has cleared.
- Keep roadways clear in order to enable damage assessors and restoration workers to do their jobs.
- Follow all recommended precautions if using a personal generator. Never use a generator inside your home, garage, crawl space, other enclosed areas, or anywhere exhaust fumes can enter enclosed spaces.
- Be aware of scammers and remember that your electric company will never request upfront payment or a reconnection fee in return for restoring your service.