NB Powers crews at work. (NB Power)
Power has been restored to all NB Power customers after Dorian’s wrath over the weekend.
Much of the power was knocked out due to high winds forcing down trees onto power lines.
Marc Belliveau, a spokesperson for the utility, says vegetation will always be an issue in this province when storms hit because New Brunswick has one of the most densely forested areas in North America.
“The winds that we got, if they were in Saskatchewan would have caused no issues, because there are no trees. That is probably the simplest way to put it, even with all of the vegetation management we do, with that type of situation, with those kinds of conditions, it is very difficult to battle.”
He adds before Hurricane Arthur hit in 2014, NB Power was spending around $6 million a year on trimming and removing trees. This year it is about $14 million.
“The thing that causes us the most issue is, there are so many trees and such large trees close to our wires, that it is almost impossible in a case where there are 100-kilometre-an-hour winds and saturated ground, to battle that kind of situation.”
