Our crews’ restoration mission to Puerto Rico
On Tuesday (12/26), we began moving trucks and equipment as the first step in sending repair crews to Puerto Rico to help restore power knocked out by Hurricane Maria.
Line trucks and other repair vehicles are being loaded on trucks for transport to Norfolk, Va., where they will be placed on a barge later this week. The sea voyage to the island will take about a week.
Thirty-seven linemen and support workers have volunteered to be deployed in the first wave of what could be a months-long assignment. After 30 days, other PPL workers will travel to the island to relieve the first group.
Crews will include six line workers from the Harrisburg and West Shore areas, four from the Lancaster region, four from the Lehigh Valley and Buxmont areas, four from the Scranton, Pocono and Honesdale areas, four from the Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Frackville areas, and four from the Bloomsburg, Williamsport, Lock Haven and Sunbury areas.
Our workers have been tasked with restoring power in the Caguas region of the island – a mountainous area that is among the hardest-hit. Conditions in the region are expected to be difficult. (A photo of damage from the Caguas area is shown at right. Photo courtesy Edison Electric Institute.)
“I’m very proud of our people for doing this,” said Greg Dudkin, PPL Electric Utilities president. “Many PPL employees and customers have family or friends who are affected by the widespread power outages in Puerto Rico. This is a humanitarian mission as much as it is a power restoration mission.”
We’re one of 18 electric utilities from around the nation who are sending crews in an effort being coordinated by the Edison Electric Institute, an industry trade group. Also sending crews are our sister utilities, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities.
Our crews often are called to help restore power in other regions, and under out mutual assistance agreements, can call in help from other utilities when it is needed in the PPL service territory. Most recently, crews deployed to Florida to restore power after Hurricane Irma. For that restoration, Florida Power and Light also requested a special management team from PPL to manage crews from other companies – another reflection of the regard for out people around the industry.
“We are committed to doing our part to help return regular electric service to all of the people of Puerto Rico,” said Dudkin. He noted that PPL has plenty of power-restoration personnel and equipment remaining in its service territory to deal with any outages that may occur while crews are in Puerto Rico.
How can I help?
thanks for helping the people of pr they really need help you guys are doing the right thing .
Thank you! I have a lot of family in one of the most devastated cities Patillas! We appreciate all the help that is on the way! I am a customer of PPL in Lancaster!
Thank you for your help at Puerto Rico God bless you and all family’s involved in the help.
Happy new year.
Thanks for the help we deeply appreciated I have family in Jayuya,Pr. There’s still no electricity please help them too,I’m a customer in Lancaster pa. God bless the crews who volunteer to help!!!
thank you we need a lot of help
Thank you! For helping my beautiful Puerto Rico!!👍🏼🇵🇷🇵🇷
Thank you so much for helping Puerto Rico
Thank you for helping our friends and family in Puerto Rico. My family lives in Barrio Calvache Sector Córcega , Calle Ponte Rosso # 5 and #4 I Rincón, PR. Our street was blocked by trees until two weeks ago when our neighbor cleaned it in order to go inside his property for the first time after the storm. My mom is living with me here in PA, and her brother,and sister are also staying in Florida until the power is restored. I also owned a house next to my mom,and our neighbor saw your article about your mission in PR, and asked me to contact you to find out if you were going to be helping out around the west side of the island, and can help restored the lines that are down on top of our houses, so that this families, which are all senior citizens, can return to their houses. Thanks again for caring about our people
I’m extremely happy to read that this Corporation has made the commitment to help the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in their time of need. I have family in the Island in the area of Orocovis that don’t expect to have power for another six month. Thank you for the desperately needed help.
I am so happy to hear this!!! I’ve been very upset at how the Puerto Rico U.S.citizens have been treated!! I don’t know a single one of them, it’s about humanity! Thank you PPL and am volunteers! You’ve made my day!
Amen Jenny!!
God love you ! Fulfilling me as stockholder, however, as part of Allentown, THANK YOU !!!!!!
I meant “and” as an Allentonian !!! P.S. Tell your crews it’s probably 80 – 85 degrees & sunny down there. !!! 🙂
(Don’t forget to bill the Trump family ).
thanks you.
I am from Ponce PR and our families there cannot show enough gratitude and appreciation for your help in restoring power there. So i would like to take the time out to say thank you and all your staff involved on behalf of all the people in PR for your services and humanitarian efforts you and your great crews are going to be delivering to our great people of PR.
Thank you and god bless you all….
With all our warmest thank you for your service here in Puerto Rico – we have a home in PA and PPL has never let us down. We are proud you are here to bring the light back to our hearts. God Bless Puerto Rico and Pike county ❤️
With all our warmest thank you for your service here in Puerto Rico – we have a home in PA and PPL has never let us down. We are proud you are here to bring the light back to our hearts. God Bless Puerto Rico and Pike county ❤️
Another reason we will love PPL. Big business but not without heart!!! Our fellow Americans cannot be ignored. Thank you!!
Much appreciated. Have a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Thank you PP&L for demonstrating your humanitarian services at such a desperate time in Puerto Rico. It is good to be affiliated with a company that does not forget the forgotten.
when the power goes out in the town where I live PPL don’t waste time to restore it seen it many times. i’m sure they will the do the same down there. we apprecited the help thnx PPL…
Thanks to PPL and the volunteer crews going to Puerto Rico to serve mission on the island. My family is from Corozal and San Lorenzo and knowing that crews from our area will be helping to restore our beautiful island warms my heart. May you be blessed with good fortune on your mission (and good food from the people there).
Thank you! I am so heartened by the humanity you are showing! Makes me proud to be a PPL customer! I do not know anyone in PR, but have been sad and disheartened for them, and the way our government has abandoned them. When I heard on the radio that PPL was sending help, I immediately came to the website to check it out. Hurray for you, and for all the generous men and women who will be serving their fellow man in this endeavor! God bless you all!
Thank you for the support and, for standing United! ❤️🇵🇷
There are no words to describe the gratitude we have as a result of your generosity. We are from Caguas area HC 11, Buzon 48954, Guavate….there is no electricity or water to date.
Family’s and businesses are at a loss.
Thank you for all you are doing and have done.
Respectfully Annie
Thank you for doing the right thing!
I have caring family members and friends down in Puerto Rico!
Thank you for all the help!!!
Thank You PP&L for your help with PR US citizens !!!!!
Thank you for your help in Puerto Rico I just got back about 2 weeks ago and if definitely needs every bit of help it can get. The islands electrical grid is devastated and many people are still in the dark with no light at the end of the tunnel.