Thee Communit Th Communityy
Press Feliz Navidad
Volume 115, Issue 24
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
$1 Including GST
Attempted transformer theft causes outage FortisAlberta says theft and destruction of property runs into millions of dollars each year Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The weekend before last, the Thompson family, who farm south of Killam, were the unintended victims of what is becoming a very common crime. Mabel Thompson says around 3 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, she woke up when the power went out. “My husband’s CPAP machine, which helps him breathe while sleeping, had quit.” So had the furnace, luckily the temperatures had moderated from the -31 C just a few evenings prior. Thompson says she looked out the windows and could see that a few of her neighbours still had power, so she made sure to call her service provider, Fortis, to report the outage. “A power outage can be so dangerous in the winter,” she says. Besides heating the home, it also keeps water flowing for the cattle, and keeps critical devices like her husband’s CPAP machine running. Thompson says the next morning she received a call from Fortis confirming that her power was back on. “The employee I spoke to said some idiots had sawed off a power pole with a transformer to steal the metal wire, causing the outage. “It was just a half-mile down the road, at a well site, and we are at the end of that service line.” Killam RCMP report mischief/theft under $5,000 at that location for that date, with no suspects. FortisAlberta Corporate Communications Manager Tanya Croft says, “We have 1.1 million poles and 127,000 km of power line in our electrical distribution
system. “To this point in 2022, we have recorded 377 incidents related to theft in our service area. “Each year the theft or destruction of FortisAlberta property costs approximately $4 million in replacements and repairs.” She says Fortis does not receive special funding to address these costs, but must manage them within the rates set by the Alberta Utility Commission (AUC). “Thieves target electrical equipment located in remote areas (e.g. oilfield sites, like the incident in question) to remove the copper wire. “The individuals who break into utility equipment or cause power lines to come down in the course of a theft or act of vandalism run the risk of fatal electrocu-
tion and create hazards for the public. “Thieves and vandals that target electrical transformers can cause spills of oils and other materials that are harmful to the environment and wildlife. “FortisAlberta is required to ensure that these spills are reported and remediated in accordance with provincial and federal standards.” The nature of the thefts can also lead to fire, with the cost of firefighting absorbed by the nearest municipality, and ultimately, taxpayers. “These aren’t victimless crimes,” says Thompson. “We are all the victims.” A similar incident last summer near Alliance nearly caused a field fire, were it not for the quick work of Alliance firefighters.
SHEILA MILLER PHOTO
A similar incident occurred near Alliance last summer, causing a fire. FortisAlberta says it has recorded 377 incidents to date in 2022.
Walter Jahns Singers’ Christmas concert rings in the season
TOM MYSCHUK PHOTO
The Walter Jahns Singers performed in Forestburg on Sunday, Dec. 11, returning to the stage for the first time since Christmas 2019. Director Carl Jahns and accompanist Diane Jahns are joined by choir members: Anne Bexson, Jean Brennan, Joyce Logue, Leona Jahns, Leona Dickau, Rosemarie Oberg, Helen Sather, Karen Gill, Rosie Ball, Bernice Des Roches, Brenda Oberg, Denise Gamroth, Debi Anderson, Laura Young, Marion Oberg-Riise, Allen Dietz, John Oberg, Doug Grovet, Lorna Williams, Gary Disterheft, Darrell Ball, and Raymond Anderson. See full story on Page 30.