ATLANTA, Nov. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company,
along with Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky
Utilities Company (LG&E and KU), PPL Electric Utilities and the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), today announced a new initiative
designed to enhance the resiliency and reliability of the power
grid by providing additional sources for obtaining critical
equipment following disastrous events.
The initiative – known as RESTORE, or Regional Equipment Sharing
for Transmission Outage Restoration – will establish a voluntary
program where participants identify spare transformers and other
transmission equipment that would be made available for purchase by
other participants should they experience a widespread disaster or
physical attack within their service area.
"Utility partnerships are critical to successful recovery
following disaster situations," Southern Company Chief Transmission
Officer Billy Ball said. "Southern
Company has a history of helping our neighbors in times of need,
and the RESTORE program will continue that legacy while preparing
for the threats facing the grid today. This joint effort is
intended to not only strengthen overall grid resiliency, but also
benefit the customers we serve by adding flexibility to our
recovery plans."
"Just as our electric distribution-focused mutual assistance
partnerships have played a critical role in helping to mitigate the
impact of natural disasters or other types of emergencies on the
systems of partnership participants and their customers, we believe
the RESTORE initiative will prove just as beneficial to the
electric transmission system and power grid as a whole," LG&E
and KU Vice President of Transmission Tom
Jessee said. "Establishing these types of relationships and
being able to call on neighboring utilities at a moment's notice
will mean a more efficient response and expedited recovery when
experiencing these types of emergencies."
"Availability of equipment and timely delivery are often
critical to successful restoration during disaster recovery," TVA
Senior Vice President of Transmission and Power Delivery
Bob Dalrymple said. "TVA is always
looking for opportunities to continue and improve our mission of
service to the people of the Tennessee Valley and our neighbors.
The RESTORE program provides an opportunity for utilities to join
together and work for the common good of the region and overall
resilience of the transmission grid."
"At PPL, we continue to pursue solutions to maintain the safety
and security of the power grid, and to address any issues related
to the reliability of our nation's power supply," PPL Electric
Utilities Vice President of Transmission and Substations
Stephanie Raymond said. "Joining a
collaborative initiative like RESTORE increases our ability to
resolve grid reliability issues to meet the needs of our customers
in times of an emergency."
The RESTORE program is intended to expand to include other
utilities in the region. The founding companies plan to engage
other utilities and transmission owners in their respective regions
to discuss their interest in the program. The program would
not replace other industry programs or internal sparing processes,
but will have a complementary role.
About LG&E and KU
Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities
Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of
companies, are regulated utilities that serve nearly 1.3 million
customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for
customer service in the United
States. LG&E serves 322,000 natural gas and 403,000
electric customers in Louisville
and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 546,000 customers in 77
Kentucky counties and five
counties in Virginia. More
information is available
at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.
About PPL Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities provides electric delivery service to
more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and ranks among the best utility
companies in the country for customer service and reliability. PPL
Electric Utilities is a major employer in the communities it
serves. It is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). For more
information visit www.pplelectric.com.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion
cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput
volume serving 9 million electric and gas utility customers through
its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and
affordable energy through electric utilities in four states,
natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive
generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a
nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as
well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company
brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability
and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through
an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and
its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by
developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including
carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas,
renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and
services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has
been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer,
recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by
DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40
Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for
Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National
Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic
Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear
development and is continually ranked among the top utilities in
Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas
Utility rankings. For more information visit
www.southerncompany.com.
About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of
the United States that provides
electricity for business customers and local power distributors
serving more than 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern
states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of
its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating
and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides
flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee
River system and assists local power companies and state and local
governments with economic development and job creation.
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SOURCE Southern Company