January 14, 2016 - 6:00 PM EST
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PG&E Recognized for Extraordinary Restoration Response During California Wildfire

In recognition of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) outstanding power restoration efforts during California’s devastating Valley Fire, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) presented the company with its Emergency Recovery Award.

The award is presented twice a year to EEI member companies recognizing their extraordinary efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events.

The Valley Fire in Lake County, located north of San Francisco, took place during the 2015 California wildfire season and encompassed more than 76,000 acres. During the fire, nearly 1,700 PG&E employees and contractors worked closely with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, County of Lake Office of Emergency Services, CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and other first responders to restore power and support the community. Integrated emergency response teams worked across challenging terrain to assess damage, remove hazardous trees, and rebuild equipment to help expedite the safe return of residents to their homes. PG&E also provided exportable power to evacuation centers and essential businesses and worked with law enforcement to ensure customer safety while evacuation orders were still in effect.

“The Valley Fire was the third-worst fire in California history, and our employees saw firsthand the devastating impact it had on our customers. Restoring electric service was one of the first steps to recovery, and thousands of PG&E employees played a part in our response. This award is a tribute to the cross-agency team of first responders and our employees who worked tirelessly in extreme conditions to get the community back on its feet,” said Geisha Williams, president, PG&E Electric.

“The success of any emergency response effort is only as strong as the players who execute it, and we couldn’t be more grateful for our partnerships with top-notch first responders who are committed to public safety. The support and resources that PG&E provided during the Valley Fire were critical to fighting the fire and restoring the community,” said Rob Brown, supervisor, County of Lake.

“The hardworking crews from PG&E are truly deserving of this recognition for their tremendous efforts to restore service and support their community in the face of difficult conditions during the Valley Fire. PG&E’s efforts to swiftly and safely restore service are representative of our industry’s unwavering commitment to customer service,” said Tom Kuhn, president, EEI.

The Emergency Recovery Award winners were chosen by a panel of judges following a nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEI’s January CEO and Board of Directors meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.

About EEI

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and directly employ more than 500,000 workers. EEI has 70 international electric companies as Affiliate Members, and 270 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

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Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Megan McFarland, 415-973-5930


Source: Business Wire (January 14, 2016 - 6:00 PM EST)

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