Inspections of older power boxes continues
We’re talking to other utilities, seeing what other people have done.
SaskPower is continuing to investigate homes in Regina at risk of starting on fire.
Cables in older power boxes have resulted in five fires in the past week.
According to officials at the Crown corporation, ground shifting caused by torrid outdoor temperatures is leading to the fires. That shifting is pulling cables out of power boxes, resulting in outages and fires.
Roughly 300 houses have already been inspected by SaskPower employees, who are focusing on the high-risk neighbourhoods of Uplands, Glencairn and Normanview.
At about 30 homes, faulty wires caused by ground shifting have resulted in outages. Officials with SaskPower say there are about 80 cases where power is being proactively disconnected to replace the wires.
SaskPower health and safety director Kevin Schwing says people should be inspecting their power boxes.
“If you see the ground shifting, settling down by the house and there’s a big gap, that’s an indication it could be grabbing the underground wire and pulling it away from the power box,” he said, adding exposed wires or a tilted power box can also be signs that “there is probably something going on inside.”
Those who find signs their power box could be at risk of causing an outage or fire are encouraged to contact SaskPower.
The smaller the box, the greater the risk of problems. Schwing says the smaller boxes, installed in houses built in the 1970s, have less slack in the wiring.
When the ground shifts, that lack of slack is tugged on by the sinking ground and can result in an outage or fire.
Hot and dry weather conditions this year are causing an abnormal number of fires related to the wiring issue.
Schwing said “it’s not a high occurrence every year” but this year the conditions have “really magnified it.”
The search for a solution is underway and is expected to be completed within a few weeks, according to Schwing.
“We’re talking to other utilities, seeing what other people have done,” he said.
It was initially unclear who should be responsible for the cost of fixing power boxes that are potentially faulty. At first SaskPower suggested costs would be determined on a case-by-case basis and would take into consideration how the problem started. For example, if a homeowner built a deck, that could have led to more significant ground shifting and hastened problems.
Adding to the complication over cost is who owns what. Power lines to houses are owned by the Crown corporation, but homeowners own most of the electrical system for a house (they own the power box and wires, but not the actual meter).
A statement from SaskPower sent Tuesday said: “With our commitment to safety and considering the extreme and rare dry conditions we’re seeing, we have decided to handle all costs with no cost to homeowners.”