ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE, QC, Feb. 14, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - During the night of February 12, high winds, combined with a build-up of freezing rain, caused serious damage to the Hydro-Québec grid on the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Some 230 distribution poles were broken, along with 15 transmission poles. At the height of the storm, over 3,600 customers were without power.
Yesterday and today, Hydro-Québec dispatched extra line crews to assist local crews, and they were able to restore power to close to 1,300 customers. However, fierce winds caused further damage Monday. Crews are still at work today and service continues to be restored. At present, over 2,250 customers still have no electricity.
Hydro-Québec has mobilized the personnel and physical resources required to rebuild the damaged infrastructure. Planes and boats have been chartered to bring in workers, trucks, poles and all the other necessary equipment. One boat landed in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in mid-afternoon and a second one in the evening. Other transport is slated for today to enable the crews on site to continue to restore power to more customers. Over 150 Hydro-Québec employees will be working at one time or another.
Hydro-Québec is doing everything it can to restore power to all customers as quickly as possible. Pole installation is well under way and today electricity will be restored to some customers. The hardest hit areas—Havre-aux-Maisons, Havre-Aubert, Grosse-Île and Île-d'Entrée—are being given top priority.
To rebuild the grid, Hydro-Québec will have a lot of heavy equipment on the roads over the next few days. The public is advised to be careful.
Hydro-Québec - Matapédia
Community Relations team
Tel.: 418 318-4708
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