Veridian updates its community power outage status report

AJAX, ON, Dec. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Veridian is continuing its work to restore power to customers impacted by the weekend ice storm. Lines and tree trimming crews will again work through the night to clear and repair overhead lines impacted by ice laden trees.

Significant work has also been done to assess the numbers of customers affected by outages and the magnitude of the work required to restore power. With this information, preliminary schedules for restoration work have been prepared. However, all such estimates are subject to variability due to weather and the potential for discovery of as-of-yet unidentified system damage.

Following is a community power outage status report as of 7 p.m. today:

Port Hope - Power was successfully restored to two local substations this afternoon at about 2 p.m. However, customers served by these and two other substations continue to be without power as work is completed to clear local overhead lines. Approximately 4,500 customers are currently without power. It is projected that about 2,500 of these customers will have service restored this evening. The remaining 2,000 customers will remain without service until at least tomorrow.

Bowmanville - All supply feeders have been restored, including supply to the Lakeridge Health hospital. There may still be some localized outages. Veridian customers in Bowmanville who are still without power should call 1-866-579-6819 to report the outage.

Newcastle - Power was restored to most of the community of Newcastle at about 6:30 p.m. today. A helicopter was used to survey overhead lines and identify locations in need of repair and clearing. This work was completed during the day. Veridian customers in Newcastle who are still without power should call 1-866-579-6819 to report the outage.

Orono - About 45 customers in Orono are currently without power. The cause of the problem is a damaged pole that has been identified. Repairs may not be completed until tomorrow.

Ajax - Outages are concentrated in an area bounded by Highway #2 to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Westney Road to the west and Lakeridge Rd. to the east. The area is supplied by six supply feeders, three of which have now been restored. The most recent restoration activity occurred at 6 p.m. today, affecting about 1,800 customers.

The remaining three feeders serve approximately 4,400 customers. While some of these customers will likely see service restored tomorrow, most may be without power into Christmas Day.

Ajax residents who reside outside of the above geographic zone should call 1-866-579-6819 to report that they are without power.

Pickering - Known outages in Pickering are in the following areas:

• West Pickering - Approximately 6,000 customers in the area west of Dixie Road and between Highway #2 to Lake Ontario continue to be without service. The area is supplied by a Hydro One supply feeder from Scarborough. Veridian has patrolled its lines to ensure that they are clear and ready for service once Hydro One's supply is restored. Hydro One has completed repairs on its section of lines, and service should be restored to many of the affected customers tonight.
  
  
• South-east Pickering - Approximately 1,000 customers, primarily businesses, are without power in the area bounded by Highway #401 to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Brock Road to the west and Church Street to the east. Service crews have patrolled lines to assess damage. The commencement of repair work is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow.
  
  
• North Pickering - Approximately 2,500 customers in the communities of Claremont, Brougham, Green River, Greenwood and surrounding areas north of the third Concession are without service. Service crews have been working in this area today, and it is projected that power will be restored late tonight.
  
  
• Bay Ridges/Frenchman's Bay - Approximately 2,000 customers are without power in an area bounded by Sandy Beach Rd. to the east, Frenchman's Bay to the west, and Bayly Street to the north. Overhead lines in this area have been patrolled to identify areas in need of attention. Work on identified problem areas will likely commence tomorrow.
  
  
• Central Pickering - An identified problem has disrupted power to about 1,800 customers located north of Glenanna Road, between Dixie and Liverpool Roads. Repair work is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow.
  
  
• Miscellaneous - Smaller scale outages have been reported near the intersections of Brock Road/Major Oaks Road and Brock Road/Kingston Road. Lines crews are investigating.

Customers are reminded to exercise extreme caution around damaged poles and downed wires. All fallen wires should be considered live and dangerous. Customers are urged to report the locations of fallen wires to Veridian's 24-hour Outage Hotline by calling 1-866-579-6819.

Veridian Connections Inc. safely and reliably delivers electricity to more than 116,000 customers in the Cities of Pickering and Belleville, the Towns of Ajax, Port Hope and Gravenhurst, and the communities of Uxbridge, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, Port Perry, Beaverton, Sunderland and Cannington. Veridian Connections Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veridian Corporation. The City of Pickering, the Town of Ajax, the Municipality of Clarington and the City of Belleville jointly own Veridian Corporation.

SOURCE: Veridian

Chris Mace
Sales & PR Representative - Corporate Communications
Veridian Connections Inc.
905-427-9870, extension 2218