Significant improvement in the quality of Hydro-Québec’s service in the Pontiac
Significant improvement in the quality of Hydro-Québec’s service in the Pontiac
Representatives from Hydro-Quebec presented to the mayors of the MRC Pontiac yesterday (March 10), the most recent study of the quality of service on the territory. According to this study, the number of service interruptions improved compared to 2019.
“On average, MRC Pontiac customers experienced 26.3 hours of interruption per year in 2020 compared to 33.7 hours in 2019”, indicates the Community Relations Advisor with Hydro-Québec, Alain Paquette.
CHIP 101.9 had also collected statistics from Upper-Pontiac residents, in line with the Hydro-Quebec study. Hydro-Quebec nevertheless mentioned that certain weather conditions hit the MRC Pontiac, putting the Hydro-Quebec power system to the test. We cite among other things, snow precipitation and winds (February 27), significant winds (June 11), thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds (August 11) and again winds (November 2) which had an impact on the quality of service.
Continuation of vegetation control work
According to Hydro-Québec and in light of the results, contact between vegetation and distribution lines, particularly when branches fall, is one of the main causes of service interruptions,with 62% of cases.
“For example, in 2021, we plan to fell over 6,000 dangerous trees along lines that are particularly problematic in terms of vegetation-related failures. These lines supply the municipalities of Thorne, Otter Lake, Clarendon, Bristol, Alleyn-et-Cawood, Shawville, Waltham, Sheenboro, L’Isle-aux-Allumettes and Chichester ”, specifies Alain Paquette.
The work carried out mainly concerns the felling of dangerous trees and the cutting of branches located near power lines. Which means that Hydro-Quebec is looking for local workers to help them with this project.
“We are aware that vegetation is an important issue for the quality of service in the MRC Pontiac. Our goal is to reduce plant outages by 25% by 2025, “adds Alain Paquette.
Note that according to the information and verifications obtained by CHIP 101.9, no breakdown has yet occurred in certain locations in Upper-Pontiac 2021. The full interview with Alain Paquette is available here.
