Aging infrastructure causes one-third of power outages: SaskPower

SaskPower said that an aging infrastructure is responsible for just over one-third of all unplanned power outages in Saskatchewan.

Officials said most of the power grid was built between 1960 and 1985 and is reaching the end of its lifecycle, resulting in increased power outages which happen more frequently and last longer.

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In order to renew the aging grid and keep up with growing demand, SaskPower said it has invested over $225 million in the Saskatoon area over the past five years.

“As the demand for power continues to grow, we not only need to build the grid, but we need to maintain our existing assets, including our transformers and stations,” Ted Elliot, vice president of distribution services, said in a statement.

That includes $25 million in maintenance work in the Saskatoon area to, among other things, rejuvenate or replace underground lines and upgrade or rebuild stations that deliver power to customers.

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SaskPower officials also said another $200 million has gone into other projects over the past five years in the Saskatoon region, including $65 million for two high voltage power lines to provide more capacity to some industrial customers.

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Another $20 million is being spent on another high voltage power line that is expected to be in service by spring of 2017.

Demand has grown 15 per cent in the past five years, according to SaskPower officials, and demand is expected to grow by at least one per cent annually for the next five years.

“We’re investing about $1 billion a year throughout Saskatchewan to make sure homes, farms and businesses have the power they need, when they need it,” Elliot said.

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SaskPower said it is also committed to reducing emissions by approximately 40 per cent from 2005 by doubling renewable generating capacity by 2030.