More than two dozen Minnesota Power and Superior Water, Light and Power lineworkers and support staff left for Florida today to assist in power restoration from what is forecasted to be devastating damage from Hurricane Milton. Milton is expected to hit the state just two weeks after Hurricane Helene.
Eighteen Minnesota Power lineworkers and two Superior Water, Light and Power lineworkers will be accompanied by two fleet mechanics, two supervisors, two logistics specialists and a safety professional as they provide mutual assistance to Tampa Electric Co. The crews expect to arrive in Florida just as the storm moves out of the state.
The Edison Electric Institute, the association that represents U.S. investor-owned electric companies, said the local crews are joining tens of thousands of lineworkers and support personnel from at least 29 states, some from as far away as California and Canada, responding to Milton — the second large-scale mutual assistance mobilization since Helene hit on Sept. 26.
Minnesota Power received the urgent call for assistance in Florida on Tuesday morning and filled the requested assistance roster within two hours of notifying employees of the opportunity. The crews are expected to be in Florida for two weeks and might stay longer if needed.
“This really is who we are and what we do — we answer the call when other companies need help getting the lights and power back on. I couldn’t be prouder of our company’s commitment and our crews’ willingness to step up and help out our neighbors in need,” said Dan Gunderson, Vice President of Transmission and Distribution. “We have a long history of responding to severe weather events around the country, and our crews are well respected in terms of their expertise and work ethic.”
Including Milton, crews from Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE Inc. (NYSE: ALE), have joined hurricane responses seven times in the past 20 years. They traveled to Florida in 2005 after Hurricane Wilma, Ohio in 2008 after Hurricane Ike, Maryland in 2011 after Hurricane Irene, Maryland and New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Florida in 2017 after Hurricane Irma, and Puerto Rico from late 2017 into early 2018 after Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Crews also helped Manitoba Hydro restore power after a winter storm with heavy ice in October 2019.
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting comfort, security and quality of life for 150,000 customers, 14 municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. More information can be found at www.mnpower.com. – Minnesota Power press release
