To BC Hydro:
Over the last month, there have been repeated outages in our area. I understand that these are related to the build of the new hospital. I have been told this by one of your telephone agents who responded to one of my many telephoned outage queries. I have also read in the Cowichan Citizen that the outages are related to the new hospital build.
Last week the outage was of a two hour duration. More frequently, the outages are several seconds long but happen in sequences of two to four occasions.
The frequency of these outages has become a nuisance, and unlike a weather event, should have been preventable with a modicum of planning.
I am concerned about power surges damaging electronic equipment in our home: heat pump, computers, television etc. I have had a quote for a surge protector and the cost is $600 parts and labour.
We are on a community water system, and every time the power goes out, we are obligated to go down to the pump house and reset the UV filtration system. If we don’t, the community has no water. The UV system will not reset itself even with a momentary outage. When we get three or four in a row, we need to continually reset the system.
[The Wednesday, Oct. 30] Cowichan Citizen quotes your Ted Olynyk: “…….confirmed that the problem is related to construction of the hospital. He said that the intermittent power outages are the result of a temporary shift in loads to and from other power grids to accommodate the construction work at the hospital site.”
Ted references recent storms and cold weather and then continues: “We are reviewing options to find a solution as soon as possible.”
Not good enough, in my view. Surely, BC Hydro could have anticipated power demand associated with the hospital build. And then what will ensue when the planned community takes shape around the new hospital site? Is BC Hydro planning for the increased demand associated with 6,000 new dwellings?
Very much looking forward to your response.
Thank you.
Mark Moore
Duncan
