CASPER, Wyo. – In response to a request for assistance from NorthWestern Energy, PacifiCorp has deployed a seven member crew and equipment from Casper, as well as crews and equipment from Salt Lake City and American Fork, Utah, to help restore electricity to several South Dakota communities hit hard by ice and snow storms last week. PacifiCorp will aid in rebuilding damaged transmission lines near Watertown, South Dakota, located about 100 miles north of Sioux Falls.

“We are participating in restoration efforts as part of a mutual aid assistance agreement in place through the Western Energy Institute,” said Bill Eaquinto, PacifiCorp’s vice president of transmission and distribution operations. “These agreements help ensure that member utilities will have the assistance they need to restore power to customers in the event of a major outage such as this one.”

Damage from the blizzard initially knocked out power to around 50,000 South Dakota residents. Electricity has been restored to the vast majority of NorthWestern Energy customers affected by the storm, but many are operating on temporary generation while repairs are being made. As of Monday morning, the utility reports that approximately 500 of its customers in 13 communities remain without power. In total, there are still an estimated 11,000 homes and businesses without electric service in the state as a result of the storm. Additional information is available on NorthWestern Energy’s Web site,www.northwesternenergy.com .

PacifiCorp crews are expected to remain in South Dakota for approximately two weeks, and will be working long hours to repair more than 120 damaged transmission structures, ranging in size from 50 to 65 feet tall. Temperatures in the area range from single digit highs to single digit sub-zero lows, with 20 inches of snow and ice still on the ground in some areas.

“Looking at projected weather forecasts, we don’t believe this will negatively impact service to our own customers in any way,” said Eaquinto. “We are able to adjust crews as necessary to maintain adequate coverage for day-to-day operations and to respond to any minor storms that may come our way. We’re glad to be in a position to be able to assist NorthWestern Energy customers in their time of need, and it’s good to know that we can expect the same type of response in return if ever needed.”

About PacifiCorp

Approximately 1.6 million customers in six Western states look to PacifiCorp for safe, reliable electrical service. Operating as Pacific Power and Utah Power, PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States with a generation capacity of more than 8,400 megawatts of energy. For more information, visit www.pacificorp.com .

Media inquiries:   newsdesk@pacificorp.com