Power Outages In New Brunswick: Prepared?

Power outages are a common occurrence in New Brunswick, with several factors contributing to these interruptions. The province's diverse climate and geographical features, such as high winds, lightning, freezing rain, snow, rain, and flooding, play a significant role in disrupting the power supply. Additionally, New Brunswick's dense tree cover, the highest in any electrical jurisdiction in North America, increases the likelihood of power outages when trees come into contact with power lines. Other causes include wildlife interference, equipment maintenance, vehicle accidents, and vandalism. While NB Power works diligently to restore electricity and communicate with affected communities, customers are often left in the dark, sometimes for prolonged periods, as crews address critical infrastructure and public safety concerns first.

Power outages caused by extreme weather

Power outages are becoming more common as extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity. Climate change is a key factor, with rising temperatures and more unpredictable weather patterns causing havoc on electrical grids worldwide. From 2000 to 2021, about 83% of major outages in the US were linked to weather-related events, and this trend is expected to continue.

The Impact of Extreme Weather on Power Outages

Extreme weather, including storms, hurricanes, heatwaves, and heavy precipitation, can cause significant disruptions to power supply. Here are some of the ways extreme weather can lead to power outages:

• Fallen Trees and Branches: Strong winds during storms can cause trees and branches to fall, knocking down power lines and damaging transmission lines.
• Lightning Strikes: Lightning often attracted to tall, metal objects like power lines, resulting in power surges and overloaded transformers.
• Physical Damage to Infrastructure: Hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards can cause extensive damage to power transmission and distribution infrastructure, including broken power lines, toppled utility poles, and damaged substations.
• Snow and Ice Storms: Heavy forms of precipitation can stick to power lines, weighing them down and sometimes causing cables to snap.
• Flooding: Heavy rainfall and floods can damage electrical equipment and make it difficult for crews to access affected areas for repairs.
• Overloaded Systems: Heatwaves increase the demand for electricity as air conditioning and cooling systems are used more frequently, putting strain on the electrical grid.

The Consequences of Power Outages

Power outages can have wide-ranging impacts, including:

• Economic Losses: Businesses may experience substantial financial losses due to interrupted operations, reduced productivity, and spoiled goods.
• Health and Safety Risks: Loss of power can affect heating and cooling systems, potentially leading to heat-related illnesses or hypothermia.
• Disrupted Communication: Power outages can disrupt phone networks and internet services, hindering emergency response efforts and the dissemination of critical information.
• Infrastructure Damage: Extreme weather can cause physical damage to electrical infrastructure, resulting in costly repairs and prolonged downtime.

Building Resilience Against Extreme Weather

To mitigate the impact of weather-induced power disruptions, governments and power grid operators are investing in various strategies and technologies:

• Smart Grid Systems: Utilizing advanced sensors, automation, and communication technologies to improve grid resilience, enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response during adverse weather.
• Distributed Energy Resources (DERs): DERs, such as solar panels and wind turbines, provide localized power generation, reducing reliance on centralized grids and minimizing the impact of disruptions.
• Microgrids: Localized power grids that can operate independently during widespread grid failures, often powered by renewable energy sources.
• Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems: Advanced weather forecasting can help anticipate severe weather, allowing for proactive measures such as preemptive power shutdowns.

Preventative measures to reduce power outages

Power outages can be extremely disruptive, causing loss of data, time, money, and even life. Here are some preventative measures to reduce power outages:

Vegetation Management:

Trees interfering with power lines is a common cause of power outages. Regular maintenance and proactive tree trimming by professionals can minimize this risk. Local energy providers often take steps to prevent such outages by conducting wildlife prevention and thermographic surveys.

Weather-Related Measures:

Severe weather conditions, such as high winds, lightning, freezing rain, snow, and flooding, are the most common causes of power outages. While extreme weather is unpredictable, taking preventative measures can help reduce the impact. This includes ensuring proper insulation of high-voltage lines and implementing lightning arrestors at strategic points to protect against voltage regulation issues.

Equipment Maintenance:

Regular maintenance and updates of electrical equipment are essential to prevent power outages. This includes cables, connectors, transformers, and switches. Local energy providers should also conduct inspections and maintenance of power lines to identify and address any potential issues.

Backup Power Solutions:

Investing in backup power solutions, such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems or generators, can provide an alternate power source during outages. UPS systems offer near-instantaneous backup power and are ideal for computers and sensitive electronics. Generators, particularly diesel generators, can provide continuous emergency power and are commonly used in critical facilities like hospitals.

Surge Protection:

Surge protectors safeguard equipment from voltage spikes during storms or outages. They are a cost-effective way to prevent equipment malfunction and potential fires.

Customer Awareness:

Educating customers about preventative measures and emergency response plans can reduce the impact of power outages. Customers should be encouraged to reduce energy consumption during peak periods and be aware of basic safety measures, such as avoiding broken power lines and knowing how to report outages.

Wildlife as a cause of power outages

While power outages are often associated with severe weather events, such as thunderstorms and blizzards, local wildlife is responsible for a high number of outages each year. Unprotected electrical components like power lines, utility poles, transformers, and substations can prove to be a dangerous attraction to various animals, leading to harm to both the animal and power infrastructure.

Squirrels

Squirrels are the most common culprits of power outages caused by wildlife. They are known to gnaw through insulation, burrow into substations, and chew on wires. Their abundance, intelligence, and ability to squeeze through small spaces make them a persistent threat. Squirrels are estimated to cause almost half of all wildlife-related power outages.

Birds

Large birds like raptors and pelicans often perch on power lines and utility poles to look for food. This behaviour can lead to electrocution and subsequent power outages. Additionally, bird nests and droppings can accumulate on transmission and generating equipment, causing corrosion and disrupting service.

Raccoons

Raccoons are excellent climbers and are known to intrude into electrical equipment, leading to service interruptions. They are curious creatures and their ability to access hard-to-reach places can result in unexpected power disruptions.

Snakes

Snakes are attracted to bird nests built in electrical equipment, particularly the eggs that birds lay in these nests. Snakes can climb power lines, especially during rainy seasons, and their elongated bodies can connect conductors, resulting in short circuits and power outages.

Other Animals

A variety of other animals, including cats, foxes, rats, weasels, frogs, and even bulls, have been known to cause power outages. These incidents may occur due to animals coming into contact with power lines, disrupting electrical equipment, or interfering with power transmission in some way.

To mitigate the impact of wildlife on power infrastructure, companies employ various strategies, such as installing protective gear, using humane wildlife control solutions, and implementing new designs that increase the distance between energised equipment and grounds.

Planned power interruptions

In addition, wildlife, such as squirrels, birds, and raccoons, can come into contact with electrical equipment in substations, resulting in service interruptions. Equipment malfunctions and vandalism can also lead to planned power interruptions.

To stay informed about planned power interruptions, customers are advised to regularly check official sources such as the NB Power website, local news outlets, social media pages, or community websites. Customers can also sign up for alerts through NB Power's communication channels to receive timely notifications about upcoming power interruptions.

Vandalism leading to power outages

Vandalism is a leading cause of power outages, and it can have severe consequences for communities, including the loss of electricity for essential services such as hospitals. Vandalism can also put individuals, the public, and power company employees at risk.

In North Carolina, vandals wielding firearms caused a major power outage across Moore County, plunging tens of thousands of customers into darkness amid freezing temperatures. Evidence of sabotage was found at two electrical substations, with multiple shots fired at each location. The Moore County Sheriff's Office investigated the incident as a "criminal occurrence" and called in the FBI for assistance. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of the power grid to sabotage, as substations are often protected by little more than chain-link fences.

In Washington, four power substations were vandalized, knocking out power for more than 14,000 customers. Equipment was vandalized, leading to outages and fires in the area. Similarly, in North Vancouver, several transformers were vandalized, resulting in power outages, oil spills, and even transformer explosions. These incidents caused significant disruptions and posed dangers to both the public and the vandals.

In Mexico, more than 61,000 acts of vandalism triggered power outages in just five months, with one vandalism-related blackout occurring every 3.5 minutes. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) recorded the highest number of such outages in Sinaloa, with 10,178 cases, followed by Tamaulipas with 7,273 cases. Despite efforts to increase security, the high incidence of vandalism continued.

Power companies and local authorities must work together to prevent vandalism and protect critical infrastructure. This includes educating the public about safe practices, collaborating with law enforcement, and implementing security measures such as fencing and patrols to deter criminal activity. By taking proactive measures, power companies can minimize the impact of vandalism and ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to their customers.

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