Enmax on track to have power restored by Thursday

CALGARY- The President of Enmax remains confident that power should be restored to a large portion of west downtown by midday Thursday.

Crews worked into fading light Monday evening, tasked with replaced 3.5 kilometers worth of damaged cable.

Gianna Manes provided an update on the situation at a press conference Tuesday morning, she says so far everything is on schedule to have power back up and running by the end of the week.

There are 127 high voltage cables that needed to be replaced, so have 79 have been pulled in.

“Our technical teams have determined ways to accelerate the cable testing,” explained Manes. “So we are able to start testing some of these cables this morning.”

The aftermath of an underground electrical fire Saturday evening is extensive. Enmax has a crew of twenty people working around the clock to repair the area.

Enmax is confident that power will be restored to the affected area by mid-day Thursday.

“We have increased confidence this morning that by the work that we’ve been able to do that will will continue with that time frame at this stage”.

Displaced residents have been asked to contact friends and family to stay with. The city is also providing accommodations for people that have nowhere to go.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi says it’s unclear whether funding for disaster relief will be available from the province.

He says this is a unique situation and doesn’t fit the typical criteria for  relief programs.

“People are starting to question who’s paying for what and who’s going to manage all of this, “Nenshi said Monday. “The first thing everyone should do is contact their insure if they haven’t done so already, see what the policies cover”.

The province has not promised any compensation. Minister of Municipal affairs, Diana McQueen, says that it has been raised by the city.

“We’ll make sure people are safe, restore the services,” she says. “Calgary will put forward a request as they have in the past in other circumstances. “

Commuters have been told to expect a relatively normal drive Tuesday morning.

Lane closures will be in effect on 8th street as crews continue to work in the manhole where the fire started.