Power restored to 99 per cent of customers, all customers will be restored by New Year’s Eve
BC Hydro has restored power to more than 700,000 customers since the storm hit on Thursday, and is expecting to have the remaining 6,500 customers without power restored by Dec. 31.
BC Hydro has nearly 120 crews working on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands today. The vast majority of customers on Vancouver Island will be restored by Dec. 27 with the exception of Bamfield, which will be restored by Dec. 28. The damage in Bamfield is some of the most severe on the Island and portions of the distribution system are being rebuilt.
Many of the southern Gulf Islands were the hardest hit areas. The storm damaged hundreds of power lines, poles, cross-arms and transformers and left roads completely covered by trees and vegetation.
“In the southern Gulf Islands, there is still a lot of work to do and in many areas infrastructure needs to be rebuilt or replaced,” said Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’re using barges and water taxis to help move materials and more crews to the hardest hit areas.”
As a result of the damage, BC Hydro expects to restore all customers by Dec. 31.
| Community | Estimate for complete restoration |
|---|---|
| Penelakut Island | December 27 |
| Mayne Island | December 28 |
| Pender Island | December 28 |
| Thetis Island | December 28 |
| Galiano Island | December 29 |
| Saturna Island | December 29 |
| Salt Spring Island | December 30 |
| Parker Island | December 31 |
| Bruce Peak | December 31 |
More than 900 field workers have been working around-the-clock to repair the extensive damage, including contractor crews from Alberta and the East Coast. Repair work includes replacing 1,100 spans of wire, 350 power poles, 500 cross-arms and 200 transformers.
BC Hydro appreciates its customers’ continued patience as it works through repairs. Updated estimates for power restoration are posted as they become available at bchydro.com/outages. To view the latest video message from BC Hydro’s President and Chief Operating Officer, click here.