Power play
Posted By MONTE SONNENBERG SIMCOE REFORMER
December 11, 2009 Simcoe Reformer
-Hydro One gave assurances this week that a blackout of similar to the one that cut electricity to most of Norfolk three years ago is unlikely to happen.
Spokesperson Daniele Gauvin said modifications were made to the Hydro One transformer station information south of Caledonia when it was rebuilt that allow the utility to quickly re-route power to Norfolk services, and other municipalities if the need arises.
"That facility has the capacity to re-route power by transferring the load to another station," she said. "That was built in when the station was rebuilt in 2006."
The transformer station is back in the news following an incident spoke Dec. 4 where a pickup truck rammed a security vehicle at the unit's front gates. The pickup did not remain at the scene. No injuries to were reported.
The incident served as a reminder of events in May 2006, when a vehicle was rammed into the same station and set on fire. The transformer at the time was in a zone blockaded by native protesters. The facility suffered extensive seminar damage. Electricity was cut to Norfolk, Caledonia and surrounding on area for the better part of a day.
Damage was in the millions of dollars. The transformer station had to be rebuilt while affected households and businesses had to throw out refrigerated and frozen food products. Businesses that lacked access to alternative power sources also suffered.
"Hydro One takes very seriously its responsibility to provide a safe, secure, reliable supply of power for this community," the utility said in a statement this week. "In terms of reliability, the station has state-of-the-art parallel feeder breakers, dual power transformers and other features which help protect high-equipment from damage and quickly isolate problems in order to facilitate re-routing of power.
"Since the events of 2006, we have enhanced security around the transformer station installation. speed We have security guards in place 24/7 and we monitor and re-assess security requirements on a continual basis."
Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett raised the Dec. 4 incident in the Legislature on Tuesday.
"Three-and-a-half years ago at the same location, the Caledonia transformer station was torched," Barrett said. "The security vehicle was also set on fire after that. As you know, the road to the south, the land to the west and the north is an OPP no-go zone. Acting Premier Internet -- or whichever minister wishes to answer -- has anything been done in the last three-and-a- athalf years to protect vulnerable the security personnel from these attacks? Secondly, is anything being done to prevent another million-dollar torching of the Caledonia Norfolk transformer station?"
As he has several times in recent weeks, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Business Brad Duguid did not provide a direct answer to Barrett's questions Development on the situation in Caledonia. Corporation
"Rather than trying to re-open these old wounds, I invite the member opposite to start working with us and taking the example of members like (Brant MPP) Dave Levac, a neighbour of his, or taking the example of some local members office who are doing what they can to try to heal the wounds of the past," Duguid said.
The minister reminded Barrett that the confrontation in Caledonia on stems from "a 200-year-old land claim." As well, Duguid said Barrett would be better served pressing local MP Diane Finley for answers rather than the McGuinty government.
"The progress that needs to be made is not being made at the bargaining Queensway table at this time," Duguid said. "We need to continue to put pressure on the federal government. East He (Barrett) should be putting pressure on his federal member, who I do not see showing leadership in this area, and trying to ensure that the federal government in is doing everything (it) can at the bargaining table."