See more photos from today at Western's Flickr set.

Today, line crews from Cody, Casper and Cheyenne, Wyo., were released with another 35 expected to depart Thursday and the final 24 to start the trip home Friday.

Only California’s crew and equipment will be airlifted by the U.S. Air Force; the other crews will drive.

Nov. 13 update

Western Area Power Administration and Jersey Central Power & Light signed a mutual aid agreement Nov. 9 that will allow Western crews to continue to restore power to New Jersey through Nov. 16. Under the terms of the agreement, JCP&L will fund the crews’ expenses and transportation home.

Western and Southwestern Power Administration crews are working in First Energy’s New Jersey Central Area. Six Western electricians from Huron and Watertown, S.D., were released this morning from the storm restoration mission and are enroute home. A combined crew from Western’s Rocky Mountain and Desert Southwest regions is performing transmission line repair work on the Cookstown-Manchester-Larabee 230-kilovolt circuit. The remaining Western crews are now working on the New Jersey barrier islands between Seaside Heights and Mantoloking, performing 34.5-kV transmission line repairs. A Southwestern Power Administration crew is assisting with wood pole and material transport.

Over the weekend, Western and Southwestern Administration crews working on residential distribution system repairs completed their assignments.

Patricia Mullin, General Manager of JCP&L Central New Jersey has been very complimentary the past several days regarding the Western and Southwestern Power Administration restoration efforts. She stated, "I am very impressed with the work ethic of all WAPA/SWPA crews. I've personally observed safe, professional linemen who accomplish a lot of work. Your folks have been great to work with and I have communicated to my upper level management team how very pleased I am."

Combined Western and Southwestern Power Marketing Administration crews perform live-line work on the Cookstown-Manchester-Larabee 230-kilovolt circuit.

Crews from Western's Upper Great Plains Region replace damaged poles and conductor on the barrier islands.

Combined Western crews repair a damaged transmission circuit in heavy rain.

Line foremen listen to the daily morning safety briefing.

Nov. 9 update

Western’s two helicopters and pilots are on the way home after completing their work patrolling lines and assessing storm damage to the power system in New Jersey.  Western now has more than 70 employees in New Jersey supporting the Hurricane Sandy recovery effort.

Crews from Western Area Power Administration, Bonneville Power Administration and Southwestern Power Administration are receiving high praise from Jersey Central Power & Lightfor their work . Sentiments expressed include things like, “how did you guys get so lucky to have such high performing, safe and professional crews,” and “can we keep your crews, like forever.” It’s not luck; it’s the dedication and skill of our management staff and crews with a can-do attitude mixed with a healthy dose of safety awareness that folks on the Jersey shore are experiencing and commenting on.

Our crews are fully engaged rebuilding the hardest hit areas of New Jersey. This in and of itself is a testament to the trust they have put into our crews in this important work. Among all the compliments, while Jersey Central Power & Light is sending other crews home, they have chosen to keep our crews and fully pay the cost to do so.

Western linemen wreck out a damaged transmission line.

Nov. 8 update

Some Western and Southwestern Power Administration crews kicked off the morning with a safety meeting and then began work in and around Berkley Township, Seaside Park and Seaside Heights on the barrier islands in New Jersey. SWPA/Western crews are performing line patrols, pole/material staging, and transmission line repair on the main transmission feeder that feeds several substations for the beach area. Safety remains a prime concern in the effort to restore power in difficult conditions. Western’s Western Colorado Maintenance Manager Will Schnyer said, “SWPA has been fantastic to work with. It is interesting to observe mixed crews from both PMA's working well alongside one another. The barrier island work will promote more of the same.”

Other crews continue to repair damage repair on a 7600/13.8 kilovolt circuit for Jersey Central Power & Light in Point Pleasant, N.J. Electricians are currently patrolling lines for Jersey Central Power & Light in the central New Jersey. They will continue to patrol lines tomorrow as the Nov. 7 snow created additional outages in the JCP& L service territory. Electricians will begin their work at substations on the barrier island will take place once the sand and debris from in and around the substations has been removed to allow access.

 Downed transmission line feeds several substations for the beach area.

Western and Southwestern Area Power Administration crews work to restore power on the barrier islands.

High winds toppled transmission lines on the barrier islands.

Nov 7 afternoon update

Even as the predicted nor’easter hit New Jersey bringing dangerous winds, heavy rain, and snow, Western crews remained hard at work repairing damage to transmission and distribution lines.

Some line crews from Western’s Rocky Mountain and Sierra Nevada regions and Southwestern Power Administration were assigned to Jersey Central Power & Light in Point Pleasant, N.J. repairing various damage on two 7600/13.8-kilovolt circuits.

Two crews from Western’s Upper Great Plains Region were assigned this morning to repair 34.5 kV damage in central New Jersey. The damage to that 34.5 kV system has now been repaired.

Electricians are currently assigned line patrol for Jersey Central in the Central area. They began patrolling at 7 a.m. and have patrol assignments for tomorrow. Substation work assignments are expected to come.

The remainder of WAPA and SWPA forces are currently in the process of being redeployed and will start staging equipment in Toms River, N.J., where they will begin working to repair damage on the barrier islands as soon as access to the area is allowed. Earlier Nov. 7, the state of New Jersey enforced mandatory evacuation for island residents until this latest storm passes.

 Western linemen work through the snow to restore power.

 Rocky Mountain Lineman Bill Weber carries supplies to restore power through the snow.

 Crews work to repair damage to distribution lines.

Nov 7 update

Western crews are now hard at work repairing damage to transmission and distribution lines in New Jersey.

Early Nov. 7, Sierra Nevada Lineman Ryan Wheeler reported, "The crew today is awaiting their next job this morning. Things have been good, but it's taking a while for everyone to get on the same page. There are so many people here and equipment is everywhere, but things are coming together. It's getting more organized."

At about 2:30 p.m. EST, Rocky Mountain Maintenance Manager Kevin Howard provided this update, “Next storm hit New Jersey about 2-3 hours ago. It's raining hard and expected to move to snow. Crews have been working on a 12.47-kilovolt local distribution line today, but will potentially stand down if the storm is too rough.

“Tomorrow, they have a new assignment to work on the Beach Haven West barrier island, which received considerably more damage from Hurricane Sandy than other areas they've been working.

“After the storms clear out, the crews will work with the helicopters to patrol the lines there to find where they are needed most.”

High winds from Hurricane Sandy caused damage to distribution lines throughout New Jersey.

Sierra Nevada linemen Dean Faller (on the phone with Jersey Central Power & Light dispatch) with Joel Carrillo (left) and Ryan Mumma review circuit drawings Nov. 6 in preparation for pole replacement work in the morning.

On Nov. 2, Western's California line crews hitched a ride from Travis Air Force Base's C-5 Galaxys to McGuire AFB in New Jersey. Thanks to the Air Force, equipment, including this 55-foot bucket truck, and linemen were able to travel quickly to the places most damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

See more photos from today on Western's Flickr site.

“It's been a busy couple of days here in New Jersey,” said Will Schnyer of the Western Colorado Maintenance Office in Montrose, Colo. “On Nov. 5, Western and Southwestern Power Administration crews will drive to Monmouth Race Track in Oceanport, N.J. We will be working transmission storm restoration for Jersey Central (First Energy). Everyone is in good spirits and is looking forward to arriving in New Jersey and assisting with power restoration.”

Crews departed from their work stations starting Nov. 1 and through the weekend. A five-person crew from Cody, Wyo., departed Nov. 2 with their equipment: four line trucks, a 24-ton crane and digger derick, a Bobcat and an Altec 100-foot aerial manlift.

Lineman Joshua Bailey completes a pre-trip inspection on a 100-foot Altec aerial manlift the morning of Nov. 2, before he and four crewmates depart for New Jersey to help restore power after Hurricane Sandy. See more photos on Western's Flickr site.

Lineman interviewed at Travis Air Force Base

Out of Sierra Nevada, a crew and their equipment took a lift on cargo planes from Travis Air Force Base to New Jersey over the weekend. Foreman III Brian Adams from Folsom, Calif., took time to speak with Air Force Staff Sergeant John Ayre.

Finally, Western’s two Bell 307 helicopters, which arrived in New Jersey over the weekend, continue their aerial patrols with the local utility to survey damage.

“The helicopters are performing well and we’re doing fine,” said Aviation Manager Bruce Hunt who is one of the two pilots there. “We’re patrolling the 34.5-kilovolt line in northern New Jersey and are finding significant damage. The local electricians are very familiar with the system and are doing a great job of finding and reporting both damage and problems with trees either on or dangerously close to the lines.”

“Folks along the way have expressed their gratitude for the assistance,” said Schnyer.