A contingent of Dominion Virginia Power workers and their utility work vehicles are helping Northeast Utilities restore power to customers affected by the unseasonal winter storm over the weekend of Oct. 28-29. More than 60 linemen, tree-trimming workers and supervisors reported to Hartford and are prepared to remain until the restoration is complete.

"When we learned that Northeast Utilities needed assistance, we immediately arranged to send crews and equipment to help them restore power to their customers," said Paul D. Koonce, chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power. "While our industry has a long history of providing mutual assistance wherever and whenever it is needed, we feel a special bond with the citizens of Connecticut because Dominion is a citizen there, too."

Dominion Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion, which also owns and operates the Millstone Power Station in Waterford, Ct., the state's largest power generator.

The call for help came Monday afternoon and the workers were on the road early Tuesday morning as part of a "mutual aid" agreement that exists among electric utilities in the United States. A utility that needs help after a severe storm or other unusual event can call upon other utilities for assistance, and in turn will provide help when the time comes.

"It's all about the customers," Koonce said. "Northeast Utilities has helped us in the past, and now we are pleased to be able to help them."Dominion's Mobile Command Center will coordinate its worker activities and integrate them into the NU response effort.