EA will send 41 linemen and service personnel to Puerto Rico to help rebuild the electric infrastructure damaged during hurricanes Maria and Irma.
In a statement released Tuesday, JEA spokeswoman Gerri Boyce said the utility began planning its response with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority last week.
JEA CEO Paul McElroy said the utility plans to send crews on a 30-day rotation beginning Thursday, with a commitment of 90 days.
JEA will work with Whitefish Energy, Crowley Maritime, TOTE Maritime, JaxPort, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help with the restoration process.
Crowley began loading and transporting JEA vehicles from JaxPort on Tuesday to send to the U.S. Territory.
McElroy discussed the efforts Tuesday in a conference call with Gov. Rick Scott, Mayor Lenny Curry, JEA board Chair Alan Howard, JaxPort CEO Eric Green and other senior JEA staff.
“This is what our linemen do and they have been widely recognized for their abilities and dedication,” McElroy said in the release.
“They build and restore electric service in difficult situations. They will be working in extremely dangerous conditions doing extremely dangerous work. They are the electric industry’s first responders, and Jacksonville is very proud of them.”