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NB Power looks to improve service in the face of unpredictable storms

Click to play video: 'NB Power looks to improve service after storm knocks out power for 7,000 in Moncton'
NB Power looks to improve service after storm knocks out power for 7,000 in Moncton
WATCH ABOVE: After a powerful rain and wind storm unexpectedly knocked out power to more than 7,000 New Brunswick Power customers in the Moncton Region this weekend, the provincial utility is looking at how they can improve their service and strengthen their infrastructure. Paul Cormier has more – Jun 12, 2017

The Moncton area was hit with a powerful wind storm on Friday, knocking trees onto power lines and leaving about 7,200 NB Power customers in the dark.

On Sunday, high winds disrupted service again and though the provincial power utility is equipped for such events, they’re starting to see an alarming trend.

“It’s a lot harder when you have absolutely no warning of a wind event and they seem to be coming more frequently,” said NB Power communications officer Marc Beliveau.

As witnessed during this winter’s ice storm, the intensity and frequency of these storms seem to be on the rise and that has the provincial utility on high alert.

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READ MORE: New Brunswick January ice storm most costly restoration in NB Power’s history

Beliveau said the utility is reviewing its processes, lines and grid to make sure it’s “as robust” as possible in the future.

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A review and recommendation report by the government on last January’s massive outages is expected in July,

“Because of the events that have occurred we’re looking at how we can be better ready, more robust and able to react more quickly,” Beliveau said.

But the utility also suggests that people should always be prepared in case of emergency.

READ MORE: NB Power crews get support from communities as restoration continues

“A lot of people that were hit by the power outages this weekend never would’ve thought in a million years that the power would be out because of the wind that suddenly crept up so you don’t think about it much, especially in the summer,” Beliveau concluded. “So people should be cognitive of that and have a kit ready to go when the winds pick up near their house.”

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