Judge denies restraining order in SME case
SME asked the court to prevent the utility arm of the city of Great Falls from delaying payments for power or ending contracts with its customers that could cause SME to lose its customer base.
The Great Falls Tribune reports District Judge Kenneth Neill denied the restraining order, but ordered a June 1 hearing on the same issues. Neill said the city has continued to pay SME and the contracts at issue won't expire until June 30.
The city filed a lawsuit in March seeking to end its relationship with SME and the return of a $792,000 deposit.
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COVID-19 closures: It's as if Ottawa has fallen off the electricity grid
OTTAWA - It’s as if the COVID-19 epidemic had tripped a circuit breaker, shutting off all power to a city the size of Ottawa.
Virus-induced restrictions that have shut down large swaths of normal commercial life across Canada has led to a noticeable drop in demand for power in Ontario, insiders said on Friday.
Terry Young, vice-president with the Independent Electricity System Operator, said planning was underway for further declines in usage, given the delicate balance that needs to be maintained between supply and demand.
“We’re now seeing demand that is running about 1,000 to 2,000 megawatts less than we would normally see,”…