Yellowknife's hydro power restored
Repairs to helicopter-downed power line completed Thursday
CBC News
Posted: Feb 24, 2012 6:10 PM CST
Last Updated: Feb 24, 2012 6:05 PM CST
Full hydro power was restored to Yellowknife on Thursday, after repairs were completed to a power line taken down by a military helicopter last week.
It took 10 days for crews to repair the lines, which required re-stringing 1.5 kilometres of high tension wire and stabilizing transmission towers. The line went back into service at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and the city was shifted back to hydro power during the evening.
Northwest Territories Power Corporation board chair Brendan Bell thanked residents and businesses that conserved power to reduce the electricity load during peak periods during the repairs to Yellowknife's hydro power transmission line. (CBC)A low-flying Canadian Forces Griffon helicopter was practising surveillance in the area as part of Exercise Arctic Ram when it snapped three integral transmission lines from the Snare hydroelectric system about 10 kilometres from Yellowknife on the night of Feb. 13.
During the repair, Yellowknife was powered by a combination of hydro power from the Bluefish plant and 28 megawatts from the Jackfish Lake diesel plant. Peak winter electricity consumption for the city ranges between 28 and 34 megawatts.
In a press release, Northwest Territories Power Corporation board chair Brendan Bell thanked residents and businesses that conserved power to reduce the electricity load during peak periods, as well as its contractors who assisted with the repair, and the Department of National Defence for its co-operation.
The Power Corporation said earlier this week it plans to bill the Department of National Defence and Joint Task Force North for the costs incurred in repairing the power line.
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