Westwood residents asked to reduce power

Manitoba Hydro is asking residents in Winnipeg’s Westwood neighbourhood to pull back on power usage as it does maintenance work in the area.

Approximately 1,400 customers — between Westwood Drive and Bedson Street, from Portage Avenue to the Assiniboine River — are being asked to turn down their AC and not use appliances like laundry machines and electric vehicle chargers before 10 p.m., said a Manitoba Hydro news release late Friday evening.

Restrictions are in place over the weekend and into next week as the Crown makes capacity upgrades to the Cavalier substation which serves the community. Officials acknowledged the timing is less than ideal, apologizing to area residents, and stressing the request is temporary.

Environment Canada is currently forecasting extreme heat over the weekend, with highs expected to reach 30 C, feeling like 33 C with the humidex, on Saturday and a high of 30 C on Sunday.