WALTHAM, MA and SYRACUSE, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 10, 2023 / Electric field force crews maintain the infrastructure that powers our daily lives, often working through some of the most severe weather conditions to respond to service interruptions. On July 10, National Grid is proud to recognize National Lineworker Appreciation Day and celebrate the dedicated individuals who are keeping customers connected and readying the grid for an electrified future.
Thousands of National Grid field workers design, build, maintain, and repair the overhead and underground electricity lines and substations that deliver power to nearly 3 million people. This workforce oversees transmission and distribution lines across more than 28,000 square miles in Massachusetts and Upstate New York.
Over the last year, several major weather events significantly impacted National Grid's service area, resulting in damage to the power system and widespread outages. Crews were prepared on the front lines during each instance - working nights, weekends, and even holidays alongside public safety officials to assess conditions, repair equipment, and restore service to customers as quickly as possible.
"Rain or shine, our skilled field force consistently delivers for customers in their moments of need," said Brian Gemmell, Chief Operating Officer for New York Electric, National Grid. "Crews this year were especially up to the challenge, working around the clock before, during, and after some of the most destructive winter storms we've ever experienced. Today and every day, we celebrate the committed individuals who maintain our electric systems and navigate emergency situations with care and precision."
Among these severe weather events was Winter Storm Elliot, a historic Christmas week "bomb cyclone" that brought hurricane-force winds to much of the Northeast. The company mobilized more than 5,000 personnel to respond to over 365,000 affected customers across its service area, including parts of Western New York that experienced more than 50 inches of heavy, wet snow. In Massachusetts, crews replaced nearly two miles of distribution lines and 120 distribution poles, all while restoring power by 95% in 33 hours.
As a result of the company's exceptional performance during weather events spanning November 2022 to March 2023, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recognized National Grid in June with five Emergency and Response Awards - two for Massachusetts and three for Upstate New York. Since 2002, National Grid has received a total of 48 EEI awards.
Empowering the Electric Workforce of the Future
National Grid is focused on creating a smarter, stronger energy system to accelerate economy-wide electrification. To enable the clean energy transition in the U.S. Northeast, the company continues to strengthen local partnerships and invest in the next generation of clean energy leaders - providing career exploration opportunities, hands-on training, and an equitable path to employment, including:
- Supporting and hiring graduates from the Line Worker Certification Program at Hudson Valley Community College in New York's Capital Region.
- Serving middle school students up to work-ready adults through four new Workforce Development academies in Massachusetts.
- Awarding underrepresented high school and college students seeking meaningful careers in energy with its "Charging Our Future" Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Engineering Scholarship Program.
As National Grid works to help Massachusetts and New York achieve critical climate targets, infrastructure projects in renewable generation, transmission, and storage will spur more in-demand jobs. The company's Workforce Development strategy aims to build a sustainable pipeline of diverse talent to develop and operate a net-zero future for all.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.
Media Contacts
Emily Demarest
Massachusetts
(781) 907-3980
Email
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SOURCE: National Grid
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