Avangrid Deploys UI Crews to Pennsylvania to Assist with Storm Response and Restoration

Line crews respond to calls for mutual assistance to help restore power for more than 400,000 customers in western Pennsylvania following destructive thunderstorms, 80+ mph wind gusts

For additional images of UI’s departure, please click HERE

 

ORANGE, Conn. — April 30, 2025 — Today, Avangrid, Inc., a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, responded to a call for mutual assistance in western Pennsylvania by sending crews from its Connecticut subsidiary, United Illuminating (UI), in the wake of severe storms that swept the region on Tuesday evening, April 29. In total, 30 lineworkers, four managers, and two support personnel will arrive in Pennsylvania this evening to help restore hundreds of thousands of outages in partnership with the region’s utility company, West Penn Power (a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.), and other out-of-state crews responding to their request for mutual assistance.

 

“As all of us at Avangrid know, the lineworkers and other front-line workers at UI are some of the best in the business,” said Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid. “When severe storms impact other utilities’ customers in neighboring states, while leaving our own customers unscathed, we are quick to jump into action to help restore outages as quickly and safely as possible. I am deeply grateful to our team as they travel many hours away from home to lend a hand in western Pennsylvania, and I thank each and every one of them for responding to these urgent requests for assistance with both generosity and enthusiasm.”

 

On Tuesday, a line of strong thunderstorms that stretched from Texas to New York had particularly severe impact on western Pennsylvania, where wind gusts of more than 80 miles per hour were reported. Hundreds of downed trees led to hazardous road conditions, and at least three people have reportedly been killed, two of whom were electrocuted by downed power lines. At the peak of outages, more than 500,000 customers across the greater Pittsburgh region and other areas of western Pennsylvania were without power. West Penn Power and other electric utilities in the region expect the restoration efforts to continue for several days.

 

For more information on restoration efforts in western Pennsylvania, please visit FirstEnergy Storm Center PA.