Manitoba Hydro announced the full restoration of electricity service in the Pimicikamak Cree Nation located in Northern Manitoba on Friday afternoon, even though a state of emergency remained in effect. The utility reported that all affected customers had their electricity restored after repair crews worked diligently on the power line that had experienced issues on Thursday afternoon.
The restoration process was conducted in stages to prevent overloading the electrical system, which could lead to further damage to equipment. During cold weather, electric furnaces and other machinery can initially draw a heavy current, necessitating a careful approach to re-energizing customers. As a result, approximately 75 percent of the customers had their power restored by Thursday night, with the remaining service fully reestablished by Friday.
The utility had initially estimated a restoration timeline by Wednesday at 6 p.m., but this was revised to Thursday at 6 p.m. According to Chief David Monias of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, 1,308 out of 1,335 locations had been restored by the time of the announcement, and that number updated to 1,334 as crews continued their work.
The Pimicikamak Cree Nation had declared a state of emergency on Monday due to widespread power outages affecting approximately 1,300 customers. The outages began late Sunday when a power line across the Nelson River snapped, leaving many homes without power or heat. On Wednesday, Chief Monias appealed to Prime Minister Mark Carney to deploy the Canadian Armed Forces for assistance during this crisis, labeling it a rapidly escalating public health and safety emergency.
In a letter dated December 31, Monias expressed concern that elders, infants, children, and medically vulnerable citizens were at immediate risk due to the continued power outage, highlighting the critical nature of the situation. He warned that once power was restored, potential flooding risks might arise due to pipe bursts, which could lead to further displacement of families within the community.
In light of the power restoration process, Chief Monias also solicited assistance from licensed plumbers to help address plumbing issues within the community. He made an urgent public appeal on social media, asking plumbers from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, or any other region to lend their expertise and support during this emergency. This call for assistance reflects the community's pressing need for skilled labor as they work towards recovery from the crisis.
