ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Iberdrola USA subsidiaries Central Maine Power (CMP), NYSEG and RG&E each have won both the Edison Electric Institute 2012 Emergency Recovery Award and the Emergency Assistance Award for their restoration and support efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The annual awards, which have been presented to EEI member electric utility companies since 1998, were issued yesterday at the EEI CEO meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Bob Kump, CEO of Iberdrola USA accepted the awards on behalf of the three operating companies. "These awards are a testament to the hard work and commitment of all of our employees who rapidly restored power to our customers and then moved on to help other utilities recover from Hurricane Sandy - one of the largest and most destructive storms in history," said Kump. "We are proud of our post-Sandy recovery efforts and grateful that we were in a position to assist other utilities who needed our help. We certainly appreciate this recognition from our peers at the Edison Electric Institute."

The three utilities amassed more than 6,000 people to handle a cumulative total of nearly 500,000 electric service interruptions spread across Maine and New York. Once their own customers had been restored, the companies released nearly 1,800 line, bucket, pole-setting, digger, tree, gas and supervisory employees and contract workers to assist National Grid (LIPA), Consolidated Edison, Connecticut Light & Power and FirstEnergy utilities. NYSEG also supplied poles, transformers and natural gas regulators to ConEd for their restoration efforts in New York City.

"Getting the lights back on quickly and safely is never easy following these natural disasters," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "It takes strong commitment, advanced planning, and great execution.  Working through the industry's mutual assistance program, Iberdrola USA's crews also were essential in helping their fellow utility companies restore service in affected neighborhoods. They're a great example for the nation's electric power industry. I congratulate them."

About Iberdrola USA: Iberdrola USA, a subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola, S.A., is an energy services and delivery company serving about 2.7 million customers throughout upstate New York and New England. For more information about Iberdrola USA, visit www.iberdrolausa.com.

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SOURCE Iberdrola USA