Warmer weather means higher, faster water
"Our message is: Stay Clear! Stay Safe!" said Dave Heath, Plant Manager for OPG's Niagara Plant Group.
"Easter is the first long weekend so people start to think about being outdoors. Fishing and boating season is right around the corner and this is the perfect time to go over water safety plans with your friends and family," he added.
Most hydroelectric facilities are remotely controlled by operators who may be kilometres away. To meet the fluctuating demand for electricity throughout the day, these operators open or close dams or start or stop generators as needed. This causes frequent and rapid changes in the water flow and levels often creating strong undertows, turbulence, and sudden, powerful gushes of water moving downstream in what was once calm looking surface water.
All waterways where an OPG dam or hydroelectric station is located have well-positioned warning signs, buoys, fences, booms, and barriers.
"They are there for the public's safety and to let everyone know that the areas around the signs are dangerous, so Stay Clear! Stay Safe says Heath.
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BC Hydro electricity demand down 10% amid COVID-19 pandemic
VANCOUVER - Elecricity demand is down 10 per cent across British Columbia, an unprecedented decline sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a BC Hydro report.
Power demand across hotels, offices, recreational facilities and restaurants have dwindled as British Columbians self isolate.
The shortfall means there's a surplus of water in reservoirs across the province.
"This drop in load in addition to the spring snow melt is causing our reservoirs to reach near capacity, which could lead to environmental concerns, as well as public safety risks if we don't address the challenges now," said spokesperson Tanya Fish.
Crews will have to strategically spill reservoirs…
