NATIONAL GRID PLC
News Releases
NATIONAL GRID PREPARED FOR POSSIBILITY OF MORE FREQUENT, SEVERE STORMS IN MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GRID PREPARED FOR POSSIBILITY OF MORE FREQUENT, SEVERE STORMS IN MASSACHUSETTSInfrastructure Investment Continues to Reduce Outages, Strengthen Electrical System and Drive Economic DevelopmentSeptember 16, 2014 - Tornadoes, microbursts and other events this summer are a reminder that bad weather continues to increase in frequency and severity in Massachusetts. National Grid has responded quickly to those storms and has been preparing for the possibility of increased storm activity for several years by focusing heavily on emergency response planning and investing billions of dollars into the Commonwealth's electricity system to improve reliability and resiliency. The company has committed more than $2 billion in infrastructure investment in its Massachusetts electrical system over the next five years. This investment will help upgrade the transmission and distribution networks and allow the company to continue to provide safe, reliable power to 1.3 million customers in the state. It will also drive economic development in Massachusetts, potentially creating more than 4,000 jobs. "Extreme weather is on the rise and we have committed to a long-term investment strategy that enhances the reliability and resilience of our electricity delivery system," said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. "We see the benefits of that investment every day, but especially when we're able to restore power quickly after extreme weather events such as the Revere tornado." She added that modernizing the grid also is a key priority of Connect21, National Grid's approach to operating and planning its electric and gas networks. The Connect21 strategy aims to bring these systems into the 21st century through increasingly resilient infrastructure, enabling new technologies to be implemented more quickly and helping customers take control of their energy use. To continue improving safety and power restoration times during severe weather and other events, National Grid has placed a high priority on emergency response planning. The company has enhanced the capabilities of its proprietary weather predictive tool by expanding its network of local weather stations. National Grid has also trained emergency responders and members of the public about electric safety using its mobile live electric wire demonstration. IMAP, the company's award-winning mapping tool that provides real-time information about outages and crew locations has been expanded to provide communities with more timely and accurate news. Electricity system investment has ranged from work on transmission lines, the large tower structures that move bulk power to various communities, to smaller projects within individual communities. In 2013 alone, National Grid replaced more than 6,500 utility poles, 4,000 transformers and thousands of other pieces of equipment around the state. The company has also invested in many long-term projects to enhance the reliability of service for National Grid's electric customers in Massachusetts. For example, the company is nearing completion on a project to reduce the frequency and duration of outages in Hampden County through the construction of a new substation and other infrastructure upgrades. Among dozens of other infrastructure projects in process or recently completed, National Grid also added a new power cable and upgraded existing supply lines serving the Cape Ann area to improve electric service resiliency for customers in Essex, Hamilton, Rockport and Wenham. About National GridNational Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'. In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, watch us on YouTube
NATIONAL GRID PREPARED FOR POSSIBILITY OF MORE FREQUENT, SEVERE STORMS IN MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GRID PREPARED FOR POSSIBILITY OF MORE FREQUENT, SEVERE STORMS IN MASSACHUSETTSInfrastructure Investment Continues to Reduce Outages, Strengthen Electrical System and Drive Economic DevelopmentSeptember 16, 2014 - Tornadoes, microbursts and other events this summer are a reminder that bad weather continues to increase in frequency and severity in Massachusetts. National Grid has responded quickly to those storms and has been preparing for the possibility of increased storm activity for several years by focusing heavily on emergency response planning and investing billions of dollars into the Commonwealth's electricity system to improve reliability and resiliency. The company has committed more than $2 billion in infrastructure investment in its Massachusetts electrical system over the next five years. This investment will help upgrade the transmission and distribution networks and allow the company to continue to provide safe, reliable power to 1.3 million customers in the state. It will also drive economic development in Massachusetts, potentially creating more than 4,000 jobs. "Extreme weather is on the rise and we have committed to a long-term investment strategy that enhances the reliability and resilience of our electricity delivery system," said Marcy Reed, president of National Grid in Massachusetts. "We see the benefits of that investment every day, but especially when we're able to restore power quickly after extreme weather events such as the Revere tornado." She added that modernizing the grid also is a key priority of Connect21, National Grid's approach to operating and planning its electric and gas networks. The Connect21 strategy aims to bring these systems into the 21st century through increasingly resilient infrastructure, enabling new technologies to be implemented more quickly and helping customers take control of their energy use. To continue improving safety and power restoration times during severe weather and other events, National Grid has placed a high priority on emergency response planning. The company has enhanced the capabilities of its proprietary weather predictive tool by expanding its network of local weather stations. National Grid has also trained emergency responders and members of the public about electric safety using its mobile live electric wire demonstration. IMAP, the company's award-winning mapping tool that provides real-time information about outages and crew locations has been expanded to provide communities with more timely and accurate news. Electricity system investment has ranged from work on transmission lines, the large tower structures that move bulk power to various communities, to smaller projects within individual communities. In 2013 alone, National Grid replaced more than 6,500 utility poles, 4,000 transformers and thousands of other pieces of equipment around the state. The company has also invested in many long-term projects to enhance the reliability of service for National Grid's electric customers in Massachusetts. For example, the company is nearing completion on a project to reduce the frequency and duration of outages in Hampden County through the construction of a new substation and other infrastructure upgrades. Among dozens of other infrastructure projects in process or recently completed, National Grid also added a new power cable and upgraded existing supply lines serving the Cape Ann area to improve electric service resiliency for customers in Essex, Hamilton, Rockport and Wenham. About National GridNational Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'. In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country. National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com, watch us on YouTube
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