Black Friday blackout
Electricity to stop flowing early today as Summerside Electric tackles necessary electric repairs, CAO says
SUMMERSIDE — Keen Black Friday shoppers may have noticed a dim start to their day today.
Summerside's electric utility has announced a planned power outage for today, 1:30 to 5:30 a.m.
“Certainly, we understand the inconvenience for some eager Back Friday shoppers,” said Summerside CAO Bob Ashley. “(But) it’s not the type of repair we want to delay.”
Cyber shoppers in the city will have a window of time to take advantage of online sales from midnight to 1:30 a.m.
Electricity is an essential service, Ashley said, before adding the repair is mandatory and to delay it would only increase the risk of an unplanned outage.
The repairs mean a crew will work over and above a regular work week, and to co-ordinate the workers and plan a safe work plan is no small feat, said Ashley.
Retailers around Summerside are preparing for one of the biggest shopping days of the year and hoping the outage will not impact sales.
Adam Campbell said Black Friday is as busy as Boxing Day at Enman’s Audio Video Unlimited. He’s hoping the outage is a non-issue to their business day, which begins at 8 a.m.
“If it goes well, it won’t be a problem,” said Campbell.
The store is pretty limited without electricity, however.
Not only do the TVs look better when they're on, the point-of-sale (POS) system is electronic, too.
“We’d still have a pencil, a pen and a calculator. We can make cash sales,” said Campbell.
Next door at Callbeck's Home Hardware, manager Duane MacDonald is confident his staff can handle any situation.
“The POS system can be up and going within minutes,” said MacDonald.
The store opens at 7:30 a.m. so the outage, if it goes on schedule, shouldn’t be a setback for the bricks and mortar location.
Uptown, Atlantic Superstore on Granville Street has planned for the power outage in advance by bringing in a generator.
“So that we will not be out of power. That’s how passionate we feel about it,” said store manager Pam Smallman.
The overnight hours are crucial to the grocery store. Important sales information arrives electronically, and staff members are working in the aisles.
“Our computers will run, and we will be able to keep things flowing and we’ll be OK. But yes, it’s a concern at any time of the year for any retailer that has refrigerated product.”