ST. LOUIS, Jan. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Edison Electric Institute (EEI) honored both Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri with the association's Emergency Assistance Award to recognize both utilities for outstanding response in 2012 restoring electric service to New Jersey residents in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

The electric power industry's Emergency Assistance Award has been presented each year to EEI member electric utility companies since 1998. The award recognizes extraordinary efforts undertaken in restoring electric service for another utility company that has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or other natural events. Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri were both presented the award today at EEI's winter CEO meeting.

"Ameren Illinois' and Ameren Missouri's restoration assistance following Superstorm Sandy were truly remarkable," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "Getting the lights back on quickly and safely following a major storm is never easy. Working through the industry's mutual assistance program, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri crews were essential in helping their fellow New Jersey utility company restore service in affected neighborhoods. Importantly, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri assistance also shows their compassion in helping others in their time of need. I congratulate them."

In late October, Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri offered both electric and gas crews who worked more than 120,000 man-hours.

"What I remember most was the nor'easter that came through in the middle of the restoration and how it snowed all day. We worked hard all day in the snow to restore customers' electricity," said Billy Howle, lineman, St. Charles, Ameren Missouri. "What I found out the next day was Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois were the only utilities or contractors in our immediate area that worked that day. The host utility really appreciated that and so did their customers. It made us all feel really proud."

"Once I saw the extent of the devastation on TV, I was hoping for the chance to go out there and help those people," said Mike Pershing, gas journeyman, Macomb Gas Operations, Ameren Illinois. "It was a tough couple of weeks, but it was very rewarding, too."

"I very much appreciate the dedication of the 660 co-workers who went to the East Coast," said Thomas R. Voss, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren. "I also want to thank those employees who continued to work back home to ensure everything continued to go smoothly for our customers. I'm proud of the outpouring of thanks and praise Ameren employees received from New Jersey customers for their outstanding work."

Visit Ameren's YouTube channel ­– Youtube.com/AmerenCorp – for videos highlighting Ameren crews' restoration efforts.

About Ameren

With assets of $23 billion, St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation owns a diverse mix of electric energy centers strategically located in our Midwest market, with a generating capacity of 15,900 megawatts. Through our Missouri and Illinois subsidiaries, we serve 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area. Our mission is to meet our customers' energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally-responsible manner. For more information, visit Ameren.com.

SOURCE Ameren Corporation