Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the deployment of 72 additional New York State electric utility experts to Puerto Rico arriving Nov. 29 to assist with the recovery of Puerto Rico’s power grid. The deployment coincides with the arrival of a barge loaded with an additional 55 utility vehicles and equipment docking at the port in San Juan. Under Cuomo’s direction, the deployment brings the total number of New York utility personnel involved in the power restoration effort to 457 along with approximately 330 utility vehicles to assist with the island’s restoration of power.
“From day one, we have put boots on the ground to help our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, and we remain committed to helping them during every step of the recovery effort,” Cuomo said. “We have hundreds of New York utility workers in Puerto Rico who are taking a hands-on role in helping repair the power grid and providing storm recovery expertise.”
This wave of New York utility assistance responds to Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossell’s request for utility mutual aid resources in order to accelerate the power restoration process on. New York utilities providing support include crews and experts from the New York Power Authority, National Grid, Con Edison, PSEG, Central Hudson Gas Electric Corp, and AVANGRID.
This week’s deployment builds on previous waves of mutual assistance from New York announced by Governor Cuomo on November 21, November 13 and November 2, including the NYPA-led, 28-member Tactical Power Restoration team that specializes in damage assessment of the power distribution system and a team of 15 who are assigned to help expedite the necessary filings for funding reimbursements with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
