Belco has received an Edison Electric Institute emergency response award for its restoration efforts responding to hurricanes Lee and Idalia.

According to a statement, the EEI emergency response award recognises recovery and assistance efforts by electricity companies when extreme weather or natural events causes service disruptions.

The EEI represents all US investor-owned electricity companies. The association, organised in 1933, is located in Washington.

More than 3,000 households lost power when the remnants of Hurricane Idalia brought high winds to Bermuda on September 2. Twelve days, later Hurricane Lee swept past Bermuda as a Category 1 storm, leaving 11,300 customers without power at peak intensity.

Belco restored power to customers within 72 hours.

“On behalf of all our staff at Belco, I would like to thank EEI for their recognition of our efforts to restore power to our valued customers quickly and safely,” Belco president Wayne Caines said.

“Our entire team at Belco is honoured by this award, which is a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our staff. Our team at Belco have well-established protocols for all aspects of preparing for and then restoring power once a storm has passed.”

The award is Belco’s second emergency response award.

“I am honoured to present Belco and its storm response team with this well-earned recovery award,” Dan Brouillete, chief executive and president of the EEI, said.