APS serves approximately 1.4 million homes and businesses in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is a leader in delivering affordable, reliable, and clean energy in the Southwest.
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Mutual Assistance Mission Complete APS Crews Headed Home to Arizona
PHOENIX – The trip was shorter than expected but the impact of APS crews in hurricane-ravaged Florida was meaningful. With the one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida energy providers asked for help through a national mutual assistance network. Thirty APS employees from all over Arizona hit the road Oct. 10 in a caravan of bucket trucks to help people in need.
APS lineworkers and support staff arrived Oct.13 to a community near Daytona Beach. They made a significant amount of progress quickly, safely completing 30 different assignments and restoring power to hundreds of homes and businesses. For three long days they assessed damaged infrastructure, removed fallen trees and debris, installed new power poles and strung power lines. It was strenuous work in heat, high humidity and swampy, flooded areas. The effort was so productive, Florida utilities determined they can handle the remaining work and released the out-of-state mutual aid crews, like APS, to head home.
Prescott-based Construction Maintenance Supervisor Robert Houle said the APS team was touched by the gratitude of people who had been without power since Oct. 9.
"We knew people were counting on us to get the lights back on. And when we did, they cheered and came out to thank us. Drivers honked their appreciation as they went by and one woman wept when she heard we'd come all the way from Arizona to help her neighborhood," Houle said. "Getting the electrical infrastructure up and running is essential to getting people back on their feet and it’s pretty special to see the impact you’re making."
The crew members, who volunteered to leave their homes and day-to-day duties in Arizona, slept one night at Daytona International Speedway, which was serving as a volunteer camp. Houle said pulling up alongside 400 trucks involved in the restoration effort was impressive
Yuma-based Construction Maintenance Supervisor Mike Poe said working in Arizona’s extreme weather prepared them for challenging conditions and added the APS team was ready to stay as long as necessary to help people impacted by the storms
"When you answer a call like this to help, you are ready to see the job through. While we were prepared to be in Florida for a month, we accomplished what we set out to do and it was incredibly fulfilling to know we made a difference for people," Poe said. "We’re grateful for the experience and appreciate all the support from communities here and also from people back in Arizona."
The crews will return later this week to their home bases in Phoenix, Yuma, Douglas, Casa Grande, Payson, Snowflake, Flagstaff, Wickenburg, Cottonwood and Prescott.
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