Hydro Ottawa hopes to restore power to “most” homes and businesses by tonight, nearly a week after a devastating storm hit the capital with gusts of wind up to 190 km / h.
“We are still ready for most of our customers to return tonight,” Hydro Ottawa System Operations Director Joseph Mulia told CTV Morning Live.
However, the company warns that there is “significant work” to be done in Parkwood Hills, part of Anderson Road and Bells Corners, which will delay recovery efforts.
As of Friday morning, 33,000 Hydro Ottawa customers have been without electricity in all parts of the city. Since the storm hit last Saturday afternoon, hydro teams have restored power to 149,000 customers.
“We will continue to work throughout the evening, 24/7, until everyone is returned,” Mulia said.
Muglia does not expect rain in today’s forecast to slow recovery efforts.
“Our crews and all the expanded resources that were supposed to help us with this are more than capable than working in adverse weather conditions,” Mulia said. “The rain usually doesn’t slow us down, it should rain heavily and especially strong winds, but our people are trained.”
Crews from Toronto, Kingston, Cornwall and London are working with Hydro Ottawa to repair the damage and restore power.
In a letter to the council late Thursday night, Hydro Ottawa President and CEO Bryce Conrad said “the level of damage is greater than we expected before”, which could slow recovery efforts.
“Due to the level of damage and the upcoming weather expected (Friday), there may be some communities where we are unable to meet this schedule,” Conrad wrote. “In addition, in communities that are recharged, there will be some pockets of customers who are still excluded as a result of additional damage to this circuit, tree contacts or other debris.
Hydro Ottawa says it remains “significant work” in three specific neighborhoods – Parkwood Hills, part of Anderson Road and Bells Corners.
“We are getting closer to some of these neighborhoods that need a little extra care, extra resources just because of the damage, because of the large amount of shrubs and trees that were on the infrastructure,” Conrad said.
count. Keith Egley said he had contacted Hydro Ottawa to find out about the damage in Parkwood Hills.
“Unfortunately, that means Parkwood Hills, General Burns and Fisher Heights. “Communities will not gain power today,” Egley said on Twitter.
Conrad warns that there will still be neighborhoods without power after “most of our energy system” is powered.
“The main part of our energy system is the key phrase … think of it as our own road network. We will have major highways open and we will have power to most, if not all, of our communities,” Conrad said. .
“But here and there we will have roads and dead ends where the power supply is cut off due to trees or damage to wires or other debris.”
Hydro Ottawa managed to load a “large number” of chains on Thursday, according to Conrad. Areas include:
- Bel Air Heights
- Overbrook
- Richmond
- Parts of Alta Vista
- Colonnade and Prince of Wales (near colonnade)
- Merivale Road (south of Hunt Club, north of Slack Road and west of Merivale)
In eastern Ontario, 12,263 Hydro One customers were without electricity by Thursday night.
Hydro Quebec says 7,988 customers run out of electricity in Outaouais.
SCHOOLS
Some schools in Ottawa will be closed for a fourth day due to a lack of electricity in the buildings.
A full list of schools is available here.
The Ottawa Student Transportation Service advises parents, guardians and students to check plans for the school bus before going outside.
CLEANING IN OTOVA
The city of Ottawa says heavy equipment will be used in the four worst-hit areas to support clean-up operations. The four most affected areas are Cumberland, Knoxdale-Maryvale, River Ward and Stitsville.
Public Works Manager Alain Gontier says “clean-up” clean-up operations will take place in the four areas, especially around the Pineglen / Knoxdale-Maryvale area.
“Only because of the level of damage done to the area,” Gontier said.
The city says public works officials will focus on removing branches, trees and debris throughout the city.
PRICE FOR THE STORM
The city of Ottawa and Hydro Ottawa say it is too early to say how much the storm will cost.
City manager Steve Canelakos says the city is monitoring all costs, but it is “too early” to account for all overtime costs for city staff, police and emergency services.
Mayor Jim Watson said earlier this week that Prime Minister Doug had promised the city that the Ontario government would cover the cost of the storm.
ORGANIC WASTE
The city of Ottawa says the bins will remain in the landfill with only organic matter in 15 places until Saturday.
The locations are:
- CARDELREC Goulbourn Recreation Complex at 1500 Shea Rd.
- Navan Memorial Center at 1295 Colonial Rd.
- Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Center at 3320 Paul Anka Dr.
- Howard Darwin Centennial Arena at 1765 Merivale Rd.
- Minto Recreation Complex at 3500 Cambrian Rd.
- Walter Baker Sports Center at 100 Malvern Dr.
- Osgoode Community Center at 5660 Osgoode Main St.
- Orleans Library at 1705 Orleans Blvd.
- Lincoln Heights car park near Richmond Road and Croydon Avenue.
- Greenley Chitalishte at 1448 Meadow Dr.
- North Gower Customer Service Center at 2155 Roger Stevens Dr.
- Richmond Arena at 6095 Perth St.
- Constance Bay Community Center at 262 Len Purcell Dr.
- Sawmill Creek Community Center at 3350 D’aoust Ave.
- Diamond Jubilee Park at 4008 Kelly Farm Dr.
The green bin blitz will end on Saturday as well.
The city estimates that 33 tonnes of organic waste was collected during a blitz of green bins in neighborhoods this week.
Add Comment