Manitoba Hydro is working with provincial and local authorities to ensure the safety of our employees, residents, and firefighters in wildfires in eastern Manitoba.
The utility is planning imminent evacuation of its remaining employees from the Pointe du Bois and Slave Falls generating stations on the Winnipeg River today as wildfires threaten to cut off road access to the facilities.
Both stations will be left in a safe state with the generating units shut down and water passing through the spillways. While the shutdown will result in the loss of about 70 megawatts of generating capacity, this will not affect service to Manitoba Hydro customers, as generation at other Manitoba Hydro facilities can compensate.
Safety is the top priority at Manitoba Hydro and most employees at these facilities were evacuated earlier this week as a precaution. About half a dozen staff remained Wednesday morning to be evacuated.
Manitoba Hydro crews are also working to de-energize lines in the wildfire area to reduce the risk for firefighters. Service to some customers in fire-impacted areas has also been lost due to damage to Hydro poles, lines and other equipment. Manitoba Hydro won’t know the extent of damage until it can safely access the areas affected to perform detailed assessments.
As of Wednesday morning, about 200 customers are without power in the Wendigo Beach area at Lac du Bonnet, about 300 customers are out in Bird Lake and Booster Lake area, and about 900 on the west side of the Lee River. About 100 customers are without power in the Beresford Lake area. It’s not immediately clear when power can be restored in those areas.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Chura, Media Relations Officer
431-323-4511
pchura@hydro.mb.ca
