The COVID-19 virus crisis will probably delay the hydro line construction project until the Fall, 2021. So, I’ve made some timing updates to the following Hydro Memo that can be emailed to our members:
Update on Planned Move of Overhead Hydro Lines along Venice Road South and Twin Lakes Beach Road South at Twin Lakes Beach – May, 2020
Larry Marquardson and Bob Cox of the Beach Association met with Manitoba Hydro representatives Ken Hiebert and Brian Bangert to obtain additional information about Hydro’s plans to move the current overhead hydro lines from within the beach lots out to run parallel to the beach road. The following information was provided:
1) The change is being made because the current single phase service is at capacity. Therefore, a 3 phase service is being installed, with each phase line having transformers. There would then be additional capacity to accommodate the growth in demand (e.g. customers moving from a 100 amp. service to 200 amp. service). If an outage occurs, the line in need of repair can be bypassed by accessing a different phase line to allow continued service while repairs are made. An additional reason to move the service to the road is to provide easier access to the lines for service trucks.
2) Hydro has prepared draft plans showing the existing locations of the overhead lines and poles within the lots, service poles within the lots (i.e. the line from the panel on your buildings to the service pole that subsequently connects to the overhead line poles), the planned lines from service poles within lots to the new overhead line and poles at the beach road, and the planned route for the new power lines and poles parallel to the beach road.
3) The relocated power service lines running parallel to the beach road must be sufficiently away from the road surface to allow equipment to maintain the road and for snow clearing in winter, as well as reducing the risk of vehicles colliding with the poles. The distance from the road, mentioned in the meeting, was in the range of 6 meters/20 feet. If the planned line falls within the existing road allowance, the location discussions will be with the RM’s. If the planned location is on the end of your lots, then Hydro will be seeking an Easement from you to allow the line to cross your property. The location of the line could impact existing mature trees.
4) As much as possible, Hydro will try to leave existing service poles in the lots in their current locations because these poles are currently close enough to the panels on your buildings to reduce the risk of the line pulling away from the panels. There will be locations where there are multiple lines from neighbouring residences coming to one pole in one yard and then the line from this pole connects to the overhead line. In these cases, Hydro will be seeking Easements to allow the lines to pass over your properties to the service pole. There is the possibility of moving the service poles to the lot lines so they’re not in the way. Property owners could discuss these considerations with the Hydro reps. when discussing Easements.
5) The lines running from the service poles in the yards out to the new overhead lines at the beach road will be a heavier line. The distances from the service poles to the new overhead line may be too long, requiring the installation of another pole in between to support the line. As much as possible, any additional poles required to be installed will be located at lot lines to be out of the way. Hydro will seek Easements from property owners where this connecting line is to pass over their properties.
6) People have asked about installing the lines underground. Because of cost, the new overhead lines at the beach road will remain overhead as well as the lines from the service poles in the lot yards to the new line at the beach road. Hydro can review this on a case by case basis. Hydro is less inclined to use the underground method because there can be existing items such as holding tanks, etc. in the way. Therefore, repairing any outages in these lines would be more costly because of the time it would take to locate them, to remove the old underground line and to install the new more expensive one. If the owner wanted to bury the line from their panel to the service pole and/or from the service pole in the year out to the hydro line at the road, this would be at the owner’s cost. The Hydro Office in Ashern can be contacted to get a cost estimate, if desired.
7) Because of the changes due to protecting the public from the COVID-19 virus, Hydro projects that the actual construction to move the main power line from within the lots out to the beach road will probably now be delayed until the Fall, 2021. The process of Hydro’s Property Department contacting property owners to seek Easements for hydro lines to cross their properties will probably be delayed, as well, until the Fall, 2020. Once all the Easements are in place, the locations of service poles and the lines from them to the new overhead line at the beach road will be known. The locations for the support poles for the overhead lines at the beach road can then be determined and construction can begin. Many of the seasonal residents will have closed up for the season and will not be impacted by a power outage during the cross over to the new line. The power outage could be as little as 2 hours while the new hookup is made. For Long Beach Estates owners, who currently have underground service, the power outage could be up to a half day because the new overhead line has to be spliced in with the existing underground service line.
If you have questions and wish additional information, you may contact Ken Hiebert of Manitoba Hydro by leaving a message at Hydro’s 1-800 line – 1-888-624-9376.