Westwood residents can resume normal electricity use: Manitoba Hydro

Manitoba Hydro says customers in part of the Westwood neighbourhood, who were told last week to reduce their electricity use, can crank the power back up.

Lower temperatures are forecasted this week, which is expected to reduce demand on the system, meaning area residents can resume their typical electricity use, the public utility company said on Monday morning.

The Crown corporation said on Friday that it was putting restrictions in place over the weekend and early this week as crews work on capacity upgrades to the Cavalier substation which serves the community. The work on the substation is ongoing.

“With relief in sight from this heatwave, we can let customers in Westwood know it’s okay to resume normal use of electricity,” said Scott Powell, chief spokesman for Manitoba Hydro, in a statement. 

“We did see a reduction in the load on the electrical infrastructure in this area over the last couple of days, thanks in part to the response from our Westwood customers who set thermostats a bit higher and delayed use of large appliances until after 10 pm.”

Powell thanked residents for their cooperation during the “unseasonably hot weekend,” and apologized for the inconvenience.

Approximately 1,400 customers — between Westwood Drive and Bedson Street, from Portage Avenue to the Assiniboine River — were asked on Friday to turn down their air conditioning and not use appliances like laundry machines and electric vehicle chargers before 10 p.m.