Massive Power Outages in Canada and UK Due to Overhead Power Lines
Tuesday morning 35,000 BC Hydro customers were without power, including about 24,000 in the Lower Mainland and along the Sunshine Coast, as stormy weather pounded the west coast of British Columbia. Courtenay on Vancouver Island declared a state of emergency because of flooding, as the city received 200 mm of rain in a 36-hour period. Delta, part of Metro Vancouver, declared a state of emergency because of storm surges.
A nor’easter hammered New Brunswick on Wednesday with snow, freezing rain and ice pellets, triggering storm and flood warnings. Power outages were reported for about 11,000 NB Power customers. NB Power urged people to stay away from downed lines, as they could be energized and contact could be fatal.
Stormy weather with winds up to 144 mph battered the UK yesterday and today. Although power has been restored to 27,000 homes, thousands remained without power this morning in the Scottish Highlands, Shetland and Western Isles. Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said it had 500 engineers working to restore power supplies, although repairs are taking longer due to the nature and complexity of the damage to the network in some areas.
These and other power outages would not have occurred if electricity transmission and distribution lines were buried like all of our other utilities. Downed power lines cost millions of dollars in repairs, lost productivity and other damages; and are serious safety hazards which can cause deaths and injuries. Visit this link for more information on overhead lines and power outages.
This blog is based, in part, on: News 1130, CBC News 1, CBC News 2 and Press Association.
R.E.T.A. 