Forecasters Say Storm Lingers Through Tuesday, GMP Responding to Outages and Urging Safety for Customers
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) is responding to outages as a winter storm brings ice and strong winds in areas across Vermont, especially the southern half of the state and along the Route 7 corridor. Crews are confronting hazardous driving conditions, in some cases requiring chains to get around. GMP and safety officials are alerting customers to stay off the roads if possible, as forecasters say the wintry weather system will stay over the region through Tuesday causing tricky travel.
“GMP tracked multiple forecasts before the storm hit, so we could pre-position crews around our service territory and be in the right places to respond as safely and quickly as possible to repair damage and restore power,” said Mike Burke, GMP’s chief of Field Operations. “This storm is not over, and forecasters say there could be more damage, so crews remain ready to respond for our customers,” he said. GMP has already restored power to about 3,600 customers. There are about 800 still out and crews expect to get most of those customers restored tonight, with some new outages still possible due to ice and wind through tonight.
In a statewide storm call with all utilities and state emergency management officials, meteorologist Roger Hill detailed how the forecast continued to shift including reports of a thunderstorm in Bennington, with additional icing expected Monday, and a continued storm concern through Tuesday.
GMP is urging safety and for customers to be prepared for the possibility of outages. Report downed lines and trees to GMP and stay away from them because they may be energized. Customers can call 888-835-4672 to report outages and should call 911 for a medical emergency.
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Report outages and track restoration times in GMP’s online Outage Center.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 265,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with them to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019). GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. J.D. Power’s 2018 and 2019 rankings put GMP among top utilities for customer satisfaction. In 2019, GMP was named “One of the Best Places To Work in Vermont” by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and was the winner of the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year Award.
Kristin Kelly, Green Mountain Power
(802) 318-0872
[email protected]