Steps taken to Assist Electrical Service Connections

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR-–Steps taken to Assist Electrical Service Backlog

The province, in co-operation with Nova Scotia Power, has taken steps to help expedite the reinstallation of electrical service connections for those who have suffered severe electrical damage as a result of Hurricane Juan.

On Tuesday, Sept.30, the Public Safety Division of the Department of Environment and Labour streamlined the approval process required to reconnect an electrical entrance (meter base and pipe) on a building.

There are about 5,000 Nova Scotians (4,000 in Halifax Regional Municipality and 1,000 throughout northeast Nova Scotia) who suffered severe damage to their electrical service entrance. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to have a certified construction electrician request a permit from Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NSPI) and complete the repairs before NSPI can put them in the queue for reconnection. NSPI says it is set up to make sure this permitting process is completed in a timely and efficient manner.

NSPI says it has scouters on the ground, in HRM and the northeast, going door to door to identify customers with electrical service entrance damage. They are providing these customers with detailed information on what steps they need to take to help restore power to their homes.

About 500 homeowners have already had this repair work completed and are now lined up to have NSPI reconnect their service. NSPI expects to have power restored to more than 95 per cent of its customers by Friday, Oct. 3, and then will deploy its crews to clear this waiting list over the weekend.

The province again reminds residents to have only certified construction electricians do the repair work and not try it themselves. As well, do not attempt to connect a house that has electrical power to one that does not by way of an extension cord. Improper connections will place both houses in danger of an electrical fire and are dangerous to NSPI staff working on the lines. Portable generators are not intended to be connected to the main wiring within your house. Customers can use extension cords from their generator to feed portable appliances and lamps.

Customers that have damage to their electrical service entrance should ensure their main breaker or switch is in the off position until power has been restored. Everyone who does not have power should check stoves and other heating equipment to make sure that they are turned off. When electrical power is restored, a stove or other heating device can cause a fire if it is left unattended.