Hydro One is investing more than one million dollars to improve service reliability to customers in Kincardine, Huron and Ashfield Townships.
Crews are upgrading mechanical equipment, installing new poles and replacing 11 kilometres of lines with new, robust wire as part of the upgrade.
As a result, Hydro One will be doing a planned power outage in the Kincardine area from 8 AM to 2 PM Saturday and Sunday this weekend — and again on Saturday and Sunday next weekend.
Ron Matthews — the Customer Operations Manager for Hydro One Walkerton — says the first planned outage will affect about five thousand customers, and the second about four thousand customers.
The affected areas include parts of Huron and Ashfield townships, and the lower part of Kincardine Township.
The Town of Kincardine itself will not be affected.
Hydro One says the work includes installation of over 50 new poles as well as and moving about 50 other poles along Highway 21, and replacing 11 kilometres of older conductor with new, stronger, more robust wire.
The outage and upgrade should significantly reduce the risk of unplanned outages in the area according to Matthews.