Power outages in Summerside less likely but conservation still encouraged, says mayor [Video]

While the power situation in Summerside is improving and blackouts are less likely, the city’s mayor says it is “still vulnerable” and officials remain on high alert. 

Maritime Electric still can’t say how long it will take to fix problems with a damaged transformer at its Sherbrooke substation, which remains a “big issue,” Mayor Dan Kutcher said in a video posted to Facebook Friday afternoon. 

“We are still vulnerable if something else — ours or theirs — were to fail,” he warned.

For a fifth evening in a row, residents of Summerside are being encouraged to continue conserving energy during peak consumption periods, with Kutcher suggesting: “If you want to have a candlelight dinner… on Valentine’s Day, this would be the year.” 

Summerside has increased its own electricity generation this week through its existing windmills, solar farms, batteries and diesel generators. That has allowed the city of 17,000 people to …