LED conversion is underway and moving west

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT STE. MARIE PUC

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PUC weekly corporate activity notice

SAULT STE. MARIE - PUC wishes to advise the public of the following activities for the week of November 30, 2015.

This notice is organized into four sections; Electrical Line Clearing (Tree Trimming), Water Infrastructure Renewal, Water Operations Activities, and the LED Streetlight Conversion Project.

ELECTRICAL LINE CLEARING PROGRAM (TREE TRIMMING)

Each year, PUC Forestry Technicians inspect Sault Ste. Marie’s electrical distribution system.

During this process, trees near power lines are trimmed and/or removed as needed by our line-clearing contractor Wilderness Environmental Services to reduce the risk of contact with high voltage electrical wires.

The purpose of this work is to ensure public safety while at the same time improving the reliability of our city’s electrical system by reducing the number of unplanned power interruptions.

Completing this inspection and trimming program for the entire city takes approximately three years.

The line-clearing program for 2015 is complete.

However, customers are reminded that if they have a dead tree or notice one near overhead electrical lines to please contact PUC Customer Care at 705-759-6522.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL

The all planned water infrastructure renewal projects for 2015 are now complete.

WATER OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES

Operational activities for the week are:

• 500 block of Trunk Road - A developer is installing a commercial water service. During this process, PUC will oversee the testing and commissioning of this new service.
• 400 block of Trunk Road - A developer is installing a commercial water service. During this process, PUC will oversee the testing and commissioning of this new service.
• Dacey Road near Hardwood Street - A developer is beginning the installation of a water service for a subdivision. During this process, PUC will oversee the testing and commissioning of this new service.
• Huron Street, Bridge Plaza - Construction of the bridge plaza’s new watermain is ongoing.

There is a chance customers in the areas impacted by Infrastructure Renewal, or Operational Activities may experience a change in water quality.

This is because anytime there is a significant change in the rate or direction of flow of water in the distribution system, sediment in the watermains can be disturbed and carried along with the water.

Customers are asked to contact PUC Customer Care should they experience discoloured water or any unusual change in water quality.

LED STREETLIGHT CONVERSION PROJECT

The conversion of Sault Ste. Marie’s 9,050 High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights to the more efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures is underway.

Streetlight conversion began in the east end of the city and is moving west.

Customers looking for more information on the project, or for project status updates, are encouraged to visit PUC’s LED project website.

The PUC would like to remind all customers that work scheduled for next week is tentative and subject to change due to weather or resource constraints.

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