Washington – Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today honored Alabama Power Company with the association’s 2012 Emergency Assistance Award for its efforts to help other electric utilities restore power after derecho windstorms hit the Midwest and Middle Atlantic regions in June, and after Hurricane Sandy walloped the East Coast in October.

The Emergency Assistance Award has been presented each year to EEI member electric utility companies since 1998. It recognizes extraordinary efforts undertaken in restoring power to another utility company’s customers whose electric service was disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The award was presented during EEI’s winter CEO meeting.

As a member of EEI’s mutual assistance network – a voluntary partnership of electric utilities – Alabama Power contributes its skilled force of employees and contractors to helping others. After the June derecho, Alabama Power crews helped restore service to more than 100,000 people in Ohio. After Hurricane Sandy, Alabama Power’s storm teams spent up to 18 days working 16-hour shifts to help restore electricity in West Virginia, New Jersey and New York. Last month, the Borough of Fair Haven, N.J., honored Alabama Power crews for their efforts in helping restore service to that community.

“Alabama Power’s restoration assistance following the June windstorms and then Hurricane Sandy was truly remarkable,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “The company’s crews were essential in helping their fellow utilities restore service. Their assistance also shows their compassion in helping others in their time of need.”

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.