SaskPower calls in helicopter patrols to survey storm damage to power grid


SaskPower has been working since Saturday to reconnect power to customers in the southeast corner of the province after another powerful April storm pushed through the area.

The outages span an area from Esterhazy to the American border and as far west as Minton.

As of 7:30 am Sunday, 24,460 customers were still without power, according to a news release by SaskPower.

SaskPower crews were forced to pause work alotogether Saturday evening due to the “strong winds and hazardous working conditions” the storm was causing.

Ongoing high winds and other weather conditions are still delaying repair efforts in the southeast region.

Several larger transmission lines had sustained damage in the storm, according to the release.

SaskPower says it will use helicopter patrols to conduct aerial surveys of the damage to the grid.

Several events were disrupted by the extended outage including the Saturday night matchup between the Estevan Bruins and the Flin Flon Bombers.

Power was eventually restored to Affinity Place and the game was allowed to continue, according to the Bruins.

SaskPower says that because of the scale of the damage and the weather slowing crews’ repair efforts, some customers could remain without power for, “an extended period of time.”

SaskTel says there are no internet, wireless, or landline services in the communities of Arcola, Carlyle, Kisbey, Kenosee Lake, Manor, Redevers and their surrounding areas.

It warns that more areas may lose their services as battery backup systems will begin failing if commercial power is not restored soon.

Its crews are also working in the area to restore services as they go down.



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