By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
BC Hydro customers in the North Thompson region – which stretches from Heffley to Valemount – will be subjected to a power outage on October 6th from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to Hydro Community Relations representative Susan Edgell.
While Valemount will be unaffected by the outage, as it can be powered by an independent power producer, other communities along the North Thompson transmission line such as Blue River and Simpcw First Nation will have to endure the 12-hour outage. About 14,000 customers rely on this transmission line, and these customers will be contacted by Hydro to inform them of the outage, Edgell said.
According to Edgell, the outage is necessary for critical work to be done on Hydro infrastructure.
This includes repairing or replacing transmission poles and switches, as well as updating some infrastructure at Hydro substations. Vegetation crews will also ensure the lines are clear of trees and brush that may affect power transmission.
The work can only be completed safely during daylight hours, which is why the outage will last throughout the day, she added.
“If we [do] not proceed with the planned outage, there is a very good chance there could be more forced outages this winter like the one we saw August 21st & 22nd,” Edgell wrote in an email to The Goat. “We feel a planned outage to get the work done is a far better arrangement than an unexpected forced outage.”
