Bluewater Power is sending two linemen to Florida to help restore electricity service in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Mark Pearson and Mike Lepelaars are making the trip in a Bluewater Power bucket truck, flying the Canadian flag.
They'll join a group from Chatham, St. Thomas and Essex, that will leave Wednesday morning.
President and CEO Janice McMichael-Dennis expects them to be there for about three weeks.
"The infrastructure damage is so severe based on the pictures that we've been provided," says McMichael-Dennis. "They will essentially be installing poles, stringing wire, and hanging transformers. Most of the infrastructure is beyond repair so it's basically almost a new capital-intensive rebuild program."
McMichael-Dennis says they'll be heading to Tampa Electric where about half of their 725,000 customers remain without power.
Overall, 5-million people have been left in the dark.
She says the utility has been involved in many disaster relief efforts, including ice storms in Canada and hurricanes abroad.
