When major disasters occur, such as storms and wildfires, utilities often rely on each other to help safely restore power to large numbers of customers. As part of a mutual assistance program, approximately 200 Oncor employees and contractors traveled east to Asheville, N.C., on Sept. 13, to help restore power to thousands of customers affected by Hurricane Florence.
The mutual assistance program is a voluntary partnership of electric companies across the country committed to helping each other restore power whenever needed. Electric companies impacted by a major event are able to increase the size of their workforce by borrowing restoration workers from other companies in unaffected areas.
Earlier this year, Oncor and San Diego Gas & Electric were recognized by the Edison Electric Institute for their contributions to the power-restoration efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hit the island in September 2017. Oncor also provided mutual assistance to utilities after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and SDG&E assisted in Northern California after the recent wildfires.
Sempra Energy Foundation Donations
Also in support of recent disaster-relief efforts, the Sempra Energy Foundation and company employees are pledging funds, which could exceed $200,000, to help victims of Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut in Southeast Asia.
The Sempra Energy Foundation will make immediate contributions of $50,000 each to Save the Children and International Medical Corps in support of the relief efforts. The Sempra Energy Foundation also will match contributions made by employees of all Sempra Energy companies, up to a total of $25,000 to each charity.
Photo (above): Oncor crews and contractors holding thank-you cards from North Carolina residents.
