ITCTransmission today celebrates one million safe man-hours performed by its primary field operations and maintenance contractor, Utility Lines Construction, without one lost time safety incident since ITCTransmission assumed responsibility for the electric transmission system in Southeast Michigan.

"Since we began operations in 2003 as a stand-alone transmission company, ITC and its subsidiaries have been focused on always doing the work safely, and on behalf of ITC, I would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt 'thank you' to our field forces," said Joseph L. Welch, president and CEO of ITC Holdings Corp. "Thus far we have completed more than $500 million toward capital and maintenance improvements to the transmission grid in order to improve electric reliability for our customers, but we must always be mindful to operate in a manner that helps to ensure that our teams can return safely to their loved ones every evening."

ITC, through its subsidiaries such as ITCTransmission, employs Utility Lines Construction with representatives from Locals 17 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and 223 from the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) that are diligently working to restore electric reliability and return the system to optimal operating conditions. These highly skilled contractor teams sometimes work around the clock to upgrade and maintain the electric grid so that ITCTransmission can deliver on its promise to customers of improved reliability and reduced system congestion and ultimately a lower cost of delivered energy.

"The transmission system is composed of high-voltage equipment running at 120 kV or more, and this work is often performed in adverse conditions - whether through exposure to risk of shock, falling from heights or working in inclement conditions," said Lee Ellis, vice president of Utility Lines Construction. "Without the focus and support that ITC has given toward safe working conditions, today's milestone of one-million safe man-hours never would have been achievable."