BC Hydro continuing work to restore electricity to Merritt area

MERRITT – BC Hydro says it is making progress returning electricity to the Merritt area and along the Highway 8 corridor to Spences Bridge, following last month’s devastating rains and floods.

In a news release, BC Hydro says there are only 63 customers without power in Merritt and the surrounding area. That’s down from 289 customers on December 6.

In Merritt, crews have been able to restore service to 122 locations since December 3. Only nine customers are still without service, however it is thought those properties my be uninhabitable because of the damage caused by the flooding.

Along Highway 5 between Brookmere and the Box Canyon chain-up area, the majority of customers have been reconnected to the power grid. Four customers are still without service at Thynne Mountain. They are expected to be reconnected in early January.

And BC Hydro says approximately 70 per cent of customers along the Highway 8 corridor to Spences Bridge, have been reconnected. BC Hydro says the flooding destroyed 87 power poles and 14 transformers in that area. Highway reconstruction through the area will be required before BC Hydro can move forward with any more work.

The infrastructure was severely damaged during the historic atmospheric river event November 14 and 15.