Crews still working on restoring power to western P.E.I. residents

Maritime Electric crews will continue working today to restore electricity following last week’s storm.

About 1,415 Maritime Electric customers on P.E.I. were still waiting for power to be restored by late afternoon Sunday.

Crews are still working on restoring power in the Alberton, Albany, O’Leary, and Wellington areas, which were hit the hardest by the wind and snow that pummelled the entire Island.

“They had more poles down, they had more extensive damage with wires but predominantly the jobs are taking longer,” said Kim Griffin of Maritime Electric.

On Sunday afternoon, 45 crews were working to restore power to customers.

Island crews received assistance from NB Power, Emera Electric Company, K & M Utility Lines Ltd., and Fortis Ontario Inc.

Crews worked until midnight Saturday and expected to continue into Monday.

The Alberton Fire Department is one of 17 warming stations set up around the Island still helping those without power.

Fire chief Shannon Dumville said about 40 people have come to the fire station since it opened itself up as a warming station on Thursday.

“Mostly it’s people coming in to charge their cellphones, have a hot cup of coffee, get some water for flushing toilets and stuff like that,” he said.