Summerside warns of rolling blackouts Monday night as Maritime Electric urges power conservation

Rotating Blackouts Possible in Summerside Following Substation Damage

The City⁤ of Summerside may be ‌forced to implement rotating blackouts Monday evening after thousands were left without ‌power earlier in the⁤ day⁣ due to damage at Maritime Electric’s Sherbrooke substation, located north of Summerside. City officials‌ say they might need to rotate power outages to manage the⁤ disruption and ​ensure a more equitable distribution of available power.

“As we continue to manage the electricity‍ interruption, the City of ‍Summerside’s utility may need to begin a circuit rotation process to shed power loads throughout the evening ​and⁣ until reliable power is‌ secured from the Maritime Electric​ substation,” ⁣the city stated in a news release. “This process will take place ⁤on a rotational basis to distribute available power as efficiently as possible. If your power goes out, please expect it to remain off for approximately three ⁣hours before being restored.”

Conservation Efforts Called For

Maritime Electric, the province’s main electricity⁣ provider, also urged all its customers to ⁢conserve energy Monday night and Tuesday morning​ due to anticipated high‌ demand. “We will ⁤be experiencing a high demand for electricity on our system tonight and tomorrow morning,” the utility‌ stated in a social media post. “Reducing energy consumption where possible⁢ during times of high demand, especially⁣ during the ‌hours of​ 4 to 8 ‌p.m. and​ 6 to 10 a.m., can help reduce the load on our system.”

Preparing for Peak Demand

The call for energy ‍conservation highlights a growing trend in‍ areas with expanding renewable energy sources, like Prince Edward Island, which is undergoing a green ‌energy change. Increased reliance on wind and solar power,though beneficial for the surroundings,can lead to fluctuations ⁣in electricity supply depending on weather conditions. Utilities increasingly rely on strategic energy‍ management and conservation efforts to‍ balance ​supply and demand during ‍peak periods.

Summerside residents are acutely aware⁣ of this balance, as the city owns its own ⁢power utility and has significantly invested ⁢in wind and solar generation in recent years. This self-sufficiency, though, doesn’t entirely shield them⁣ from the challenges of a regional grid, as demonstrated by the recent incident.

As crews work to repair the damage ⁣at the Sherbrooke substation, it⁣ underscores the importance of resilient infrastructure and collaborative efforts between utilities and communities to‍ ensure reliable power supply. While ‍the rotating blackouts may⁤ cause temporary inconveniences, ⁢it serves as a reminder of the ongoing transition to‍ a more enduring energy ⁢future.

Summerside Faces Second Major power Outage in Recent weeks

Residents⁤ of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, are once again facing a major power outage, marking the second significant disruption to‍ the city’s electrical grid in a short period. This latest ‌outage, spanning a large portion of ⁤the city, has left thousands without power and sparked concerns about the reliability of local energy infrastructure.

The ⁤City ‍of Summerside issued an urgent statement acknowledging ⁣the outage and outlining steps being taken to⁢ restore ​electricity.⁢ The statement emphasized the city’s commitment to utilizing ‍all available resources,including solar farm batteries,wind farm energy,and backup generators,to mitigate the impact of the disruption.

“To help‍ mitigate the ​impact, the City of Summerside‍ is ⁤utilizing all available energy‌ assets, including our solar farm battery, wind farm energy, and generators,”

— City⁣ of Summerside

In an effort​ to further alleviate the ‌strain on the electrical system, the city announced the closure of all non-essential municipal operations until power is restored. The statement also⁤ urged residents to conserve energy wherever possible to help reduce the burden on the grid.

“In addition to ‌thes efforts, we will be doing our​ part to ‍conserve load use by closing ​all non-essential municipal operations. ⁤Residents should also conserve energy where possible to help reduce strain on the system.”

— City of Summerside

Earlier ‍Outage Raises Concerns

This recent outage follows a similar incident just a few weeks ago, prompting residents and local officials to question the reliability of Summerside’s power infrastructure. The frequency of these outages raises concerns about aging​ equipment,‍ potential cybersecurity threats, and the city’s preparedness for larger-scale power disruptions.

These events ​underscore the crucial need ⁣for a‍ complete assessment of Summerside’s energy grid and the ‌implementation of robust measures to ensure⁢ reliable and ‌resilient power supply for its residents.

Widespread Power Outage Impacts Western P.E.I.

A widespread power⁣ outage Monday ‍morning affected more than 19,000​ customers‌ in western Prince Edward Island, disrupting schools, healthcare appointments, and essential services. As temperatures hovered around -10 C, ⁢the⁤ outage forced the closure of several schools ⁢and the ⁣cancellation of in-person appointments at primary-care facilities.

Schools ⁢and Healthcare Disrupted

the Public Schools Branch sent students ⁢home from schools in western P.E.I. at 9:30 a.m. due⁤ to the outage. ‌French-language schools in the area, including École Pierre-Chiasson, École Évangéline, and École-sur-Mer, were also closed for the day.

“All in-person appointments at primary-care facilities, like ​the Alberton Health Center and ‍tyne ‌Valley Health Centre, were being cancelled until noon‍ due to the ⁣outage,” explained Health P.E.I. in a statement to ​CBC News.

“Affected patients would be contacted ​to reschedule ⁤their⁣ appointments.”

City Resorts​ to Backup ‍Generators

The City of ‌Summerside implemented its backup generators to alleviate the impact of the outage.By 11 a.m., power had‌ been restored to all‌ customers across all ‍circuits in the city, ⁢thanks to a ​combination of these generators and partial capacity from Maritime Electric.

Impact​ and Considerations

While the outage was eventually resolved,it highlighted ‌the vulnerability of essential services to power disruptions. Communities across Canada, facing increasingly ​frequent extreme weather events, must prioritize infrastructure resilience and explore ​strategies for ⁤minimizing the impact ‌of future outages.

This includes investing in backup power⁤ systems, implementing early warning systems, and strengthening community emergency preparedness plans.

how​ do⁣ the investments Summerside has made in renewable energy⁣ sources relate too the city’s strategy⁣ for ensuring power reliability?

Power⁤ Outages in PEI: A conversation with Mayor Francine ⁢LeBlanc

Power outages have been a recurring issue in Prince Edward Island recently, leaving ‍residents frustrated and concerned. To gain insight‍ into the situation,‍ we⁣ sat down⁤ with Mayor Francine LeBlanc of Summerside,⁤ a city that has been ‌especially affected.

Mayor LeBlanc, thank ‌you for taking the time to speak with‍ us. How would you describe the impact of these recent power‍ outages on Summerside residents?

“It’s been incredibly challenging,” Mayor leblanc responds. “These outages have disrupted daily life for ​many⁢ people. Schools have had to close, businesses have faced ​losses, and some residents have‍ been without​ heat or access to essential appliances during ⁤freezing temperatures. The ⁣frustration is understandable, and we’re doing‍ everything​ we can to minimize the impact and find long-term solutions.”

The frequency of these outages raises concerns about ‌the reliability of Summerside’s power grid. What ⁣steps is the city taking to address these concerns?

“We’re taking ⁢this ⁤very⁢ seriously. We’re working closely with Maritime Electric, our utility provider,⁤ to identify the root causes of these outages and to ensure they implement preventative measures.​ We’re also ⁤exploring options⁢ to improve our own⁤ resilience, including investing in backup ‌power systems and diversifying our energy sources. Our goal is to create⁤ a more reliable and sustainable power grid for summerside.” ⁤

Summerside has invested heavily in renewable energy sources like wind and solar.‌ How do these investments fit into the city’s approach to power reliability?

“Renewable energy is a crucial part of our future, and we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability. However, we recognise that integrating renewable sources can⁢ bring​ challenges with grid stability. That’s why ​we’re working on⁣ smart grid technologies that can better manage fluctuations in supply and demand. Our‌ focus is on creating a balanced energy system that is both clean and​ reliable.”

What‍ message would you like to convey to ​Summerside⁢ residents who are concerned about these outages?

“I want to assure our residents that we understand ‌their frustration and share their‍ concern. We ⁣are committed to doing everything in our power to ⁣improve the situation.We’re working diligently with ⁢our partners to address the ‌root causes of⁢ these outages, to⁤ invest in long-term solutions, and to ensure that Summerside remains a thriving and resilient community.”

Looking to ⁢the future, what do you see as the biggest ⁢challenges and opportunities for Summerside in terms of power reliability?

“The⁤ biggest challenge is ‍balancing our commitment⁢ to renewable energy with the need for a reliable and resilient grid.The opportunities lie in​ innovating⁤ and investing in smart grid technologies, exploring new energy storage‌ solutions, and fostering⁤ greater collaboration across the energy sector. We believe that by ⁣working ⁣together, we⁤ can create a power ‍system that ⁢meets ‌the ‌needs of our growing​ community while protecting our surroundings.”