Lakefront Utilities Inc. (LUI) has recently seen a spike in power outages affecting its Cobourg and Colborne customers. Over the past two weeks, outages have occurred more frequently due to wildlife interference and weather-related issues, not from load capacity problems, as some customers have speculated.
On July 3, around 6:33 a.m., approximately 3,500 customers in south-central Cobourg lost power for 70 minutes due to wildlife contact on the F9 circuit. This incident followed a series of outages, including a complete system interruption on June 29 caused by a Hydro One transmission circuit issue, affecting all Cobourg and Colborne customers.
To address these challenges, LUI is enhancing its infrastructure and operational practices. Plans include replacing aging infrastructure, increasing wildlife protection measures on power lines, and intensifying vegetation management to reduce weather-related disruptions. Additionally, LUI is leveraging technology such as smart meters and the SCADA system for real-time outage management.
“We understand the frustration and inconvenience these outages cause,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Lakefront Utilities Inc. “Our team is dedicated to improving service reliability and keeping our customers informed and supported.”
LUI says that customers can stay updated through their mobile app, website, and social media during outages. They report their ongoing efforts will provide reliable and robust service to the Cobourg and Colborne communities.
For more details on LUI’s performance and future plans, customers can visit Lakefront Utilities’ Scorecard and Distribution System Plan.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
