After Winter Storm Shirley caused over 212,000 power outages and at least 9 fatalities across the south and Ohio River Valley, AEP subsidiary Appalachian Power requested Mutual Aid from other utilities to assist in their storm restoration efforts. ComEd sent one-hundred overhead Electrical Workers and twenty-four support staff employees. Crews departed early on Sunday Valentines Day for the twelve hour drive to the Huntington, West Virginia area. Contractors sent two– hundred and fifty workers. The work in the snow covered, mountainous terrain has been laborious. Narrow roads prevented vehicle access to equipment severely damaged by ice and
snow.
In anticipation of another winter storm predicted to hit the area, Exelon subsidiary BGE requested Mutual Aid. ComEd sent another eighty overhead Electrical Workers and twenty-four employees including Clerical, Fleet and Supply to assist sister local IBEW 410. Those employees departed on Thursday February 18th and stopped in Pennsylvania. The storm missed Maryland and employees returned on Saturday.
IBEW 15 members working in the Mountain State returned Saturday evening the 27th; employees on a basic workday Sunday were granted a paid day off.