National Grid received a national award for its response to two back-to-back winter storms that knocked out power across Massachusetts, including Andover and North Andover.

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), an industry group representing U.S. investor-owned electric companies, presented the Emergency Recovery Award on Sept. 9 during its board meeting. The award recognized National Grid's restoration work after a February 2026 blizzard and a March 2026 storm that together caused more than 186,000 outages across the utility's Massachusetts service area, WHAV reported.

The February blizzard hit around Feb. 23 with wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour and snowfall rates topping two inches per hour. Some parts of the state saw more than 36 inches of snow. Andover recorded 21 inches, according to National Weather Service data reported by Patch. More than 250,000 Massachusetts customers across all utilities were still without power on Feb. 24.

National Grid alone reported more than 96,000 outages statewide from that storm.

Chris Laird, chief operating officer of National Grid New England Electric, said during the February restoration that the company had staged crews before the blizzard arrived. "This was a powerful and damaging storm, and our crews have been working around the clock as conditions allow to restore service safely," Laird said at the time, as reported by Patch.

The March storm brought heavy rain and damaging southerly winds that toppled trees and damaged electric infrastructure, causing more than 90,000 additional National Grid outages in Massachusetts. The EEI award announcement did not include specific outage counts for Andover or North Andover from either storm.

Lisa Wieland, National Grid New England president, said in the award announcement that she was proud of how crews stepped up in difficult conditions to restore service safely.

The award was tough to earn. A panel of EEI judges selected winners through a nomination process open to all member utilities.

Residents who want to report an outage or check restoration status can visit National Grid's outage map at nationalgrid.com or call 1-800-322-3223.