The worst storm in nine years – according to the press – hit the Lower Mainland last weekend. The last time this type of weather system hit the Lower Mainland was in 2006. Power was off in many areas for up to two days. This time it took four days to restore electricity to most but not all of the affected areas.
Since 2006, municipalities and developers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to put the wires underground to beautify neighbourhoods and reduce the number of outages caused by falling trees and or branches. Few if any new subdivisions have been built with overhead services.
BC Hydro spent further millions to install smart meters to assist in correcting faults in the grid.
Why then, in light of all these millions spent, do we have homeowners in areas who have never had an overhead wire so dramatically affected by a relatively minor wind storm? Just asking.
Is it possible that BC Hydro, in an effort to reduce overhead wires and increase profits, has reduced the number of qualified technicians and so has fewer staff to respond to these incidents and therefore it takes days longer to restore service? Just asking.
Is it possible that routine maintenance, including trimming or removal of trees where wires are at risk, has been deferred? Just asking.
Mike Davenport, Surrey