UPDATED: More than half of P.E.I. households have had power restored
Maritime Electrical has restored energy to 42,000 clients since post-tropical storm Fiona blew by Prince Edward Island Sept. 23-24.
This represents 51 per cent of Island households who’re Maritime Electrical ratepayers. As of 5 p.m. on Sept. 29, this implies simply over 38,000 households are with out energy.
In a media briefing on Sept. 29, Maritime Electrical spokesperson Kim Griffin reiterated the utility isn’t in a position to present exact timelines for restoring energy to particular communities.
Griffin has confronted per week of questions from P.E.I. reporters in regards to the lack of timelines for restoration.
However Griffin urged many Islanders may see service restored by early subsequent week.
“We’re anticipated to be into Sunday, possibly even Monday till we’ve got communities restored. And undecided on particular person outages at this level,” Griffin mentioned.
Griffin clarified that she meant primarily central and east communities versus a blanket dedication of restoration of all outages.
Griffin mentioned Maritime Electrical crews have managed to revive energy to 70 per cent of households in western P.E.I. and 55 per cent of Charlottetown households since final Saturday.
The utility has restored 35 per cent of households within the central area and 30 per cent in jap P.E.I.
Almost 900 downed masts
Griffin mentioned Island houses with downed electrical service masts may face an extended watch for service restoration.
Downed masts would require an electrician first to assist clients. Maritime Electrical believes there are a complete of 895 clients masts down throughout P.E.I.
“As soon as we get the communities on, we are going to allocate crews to work at your house ranges when the electricians are carried out,” Griffin mentioned.
Griffin mentioned service crews have been optimistic after restoring energy to shut to 18,000 houses on Wednesday.
She additionally mentioned some areas have taken 2-3 instances longer to revive than others.
King hints at new helps
Premier Dennis King urged that his authorities might be providing further help to households that lack insurance coverage or who’ve thrown out meals as a result of energy outages.
He mentioned particulars of one other program might be introduced on Friday.
King added that residence insurance coverage, in addition to renters insurance coverage, usually covers meals spoilage throughout prolonged outages.
King additionally mentioned a $1,000 deductible for P.E.I.’s catastrophe monetary help program might be waived for property damager associated to Fiona. Because of this there is no such thing as a minimal greenback worth of property harm that’s required to qualify for this program.
Islanders are in a position to submit assessments on-line of property harm to find out eligibility. The catastrophe monetary help program is meant to cowl prices for property repairs of houses and companies that’s not already coated below current insurance coverage.
“So, for instance, an uninsured loss could be for a property the place a tree fell in your property that didn’t hit your home or automotive,” King mentioned.
“That will be what could be categorized as an uninsured problem. And I do know that there are literally thousands of these throughout Prince Edward Island.”
Lastly, King introduced a wage subsidy program, introduced earlier within the week to assist affected companies pay worker wages, may also be offered to self-employed Islanders.
The province’s wage rebate permits companies to use for a 100 per cent wage rebate to pay employees whereas companies are closed as a result of property harm.
