Manitoba Hydro has successfully restored electricity service to the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba, overcoming a challenging situation amidst a state of emergency that was still in place.
In an official statement released on Friday, Manitoba Hydro confirmed the full restoration of power to all affected customers after extensive repair work was carried out on the power line the day before.
The restoration process was carefully executed in stages to prevent system overload and potential equipment damage, especially considering the heavy current draw from electric furnaces and other appliances during cold weather.
By Thursday night, approximately 75 percent of customers had their power back, with the remaining households being connected by Friday as reported by Manitoba Hydro. The initial restoration deadline had been set for Wednesday at 6 p.m., but due to unforeseen challenges, the revised target was Thursday at the same time.
Chief David Monias of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation shared the good news of power return via social media, highlighting the progress made in resolving the outage issues.
The community had declared a state of emergency on Monday after a major power outage impacted around 1,300 customers following a line break over the Nelson River on Sunday.
During the crisis, Chief Monias reached out to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging for assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to address the power shortage crisis in Cross Lake. In a letter sent on December 31, he emphasized the urgent need for action to mitigate the escalating public health and safety risks faced by the community, particularly vulnerable individuals like elders, infants, and those with medical conditions.
As power restoration continues, concerns about potential flooding from pipe bursts loom large, increasing the likelihood of more families being displaced. To cope with the situation, the community appealed for support from licensed plumbers across various regions to aid in the emergency response efforts.