UPDATE: N.L. Hydro expresses optimism as generation improves at Bay D’Espoir, power warning continues
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro reported progress overnight in removing ice from its Bay D’Espoir hydro plant, allowing the utility to restart several units.
Vice-President of Engineering Rob Collett expressed optimism during a briefing with media on Sunday. Rotating blackouts have not been required so far, but officials caution the province is not out of the woods yet. They credited conservation efforts by the public for avoiding the need for blackouts.
Asked if schools will be able to open on Monday, Collett repeated he is “optimistic” but still waiting to see how things develop.
“Units are being monitored closely and are being brought online gradually to ensure stability. While this is positive news, the Power Warning remains in place,” Hydro posted on social media.
“We ask customers to continue conserving power to support system stability, and should remain prepared for the possibility of outages.”
Frazil ice had forced Hydro to take Bay D’Espoir offline. The utility warned residents to prepare for possible rotating power outages on Satueday. Only one generating unit had been working at the Holyrood Generating Station, but a second unit is now partially back online while the third is undergoing an overhaul. Power is coming in from Muskrat Falls, but the Labrador-Island Link is still not able to run at full capacity.
Power is also being imported hour-by-hour from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and New England, but Nova Scotia residents are also being asked to conserve as the province is in the midst of a cold snap.
The provincial overmment says Confederation Building and parking lot lighting have been switched to generator power. Other government buildings, including schools, without generators are on reduced heating and lighting.