A Gulf Power storm restoration team of 65 employees will head to Washington D.C. Friday morning to help Pepco Energy Services restore power to their customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Forty-eight line personnel and 17 support staff members will support Pepco Energy Services in the Washington D.C. area, after Hurricane Irene has passed through the region. In addition, Gulf Power is sending 24 bucket trucks. These employees will help assess any damage and determine equipment needed to restore power. The crews are prepared to work for up to two weeks and will assist wherever they are needed.

Gulf Power assisted Alabama Power earlier this year after a deadly tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, Ala. and knocked out power to thousands of customers.

Pepco delivers power to nearly 1.9 million customers in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland and New Jersey, making it one of the largest electricity delivery companies in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We’re glad to be able to help fellow utility companies when devastating storms hit,” said Jeff Rogers of Gulf Power. “Our crews are some of the most highly-trained restoration experts in the world. It’s common for utilities to help each other and we’re just glad to be part of the effort.”

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service to our customers while working to improve the communities we serve. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”