Attempted theft of copper wire causes power outages in Red Deer

“The attempted theft resulted in damage to City infrastructure, a power outage that impacted approximately 6,000 customers on Monday morning, and had the potential to put our responding staff at risk,” said Jim Jorgensen, Manager of Utilities, City of Red Deer.

Jorgensen says crews were able to restore power by 12:15 p.m..

An electrical enclosure near the former site of the Black Knight Inn was breached during the early morning hours of Aug. 1, 2022 in Red Deer, in what police allege was the attempted theft of copper wire. (Submitted)

Red Deer RCMP are asking anyone who has more information to come forward. Details such as, seeing someone suspicious or possibly injured around Bremner Avenue and Molly Bannister Drive during the early morning hours of Aug. 1.

Reports can be made by calling the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Meantime, Electric, Light and Power (EL&P) crews with the City of Red Deer were also kept busy with several other power outages due to the storms that passed through the area that day as well.

“Around 6:30 p.m., probably around 1,000 customers might have seen a very brief outage due to some influence from the weather. The system restored itself and the power back on, so that was O.K.,” said Jorgensen. “But then at 7 o’clock, another location experienced a lightning strike and damaged a transformer that was in the vicinity of Spruce Drive and 32^nd Street, so the crews were making repairs and restored power to that by about 12:45 in the morning. Not a big impact there, probably around 10 residences.”

Also, at around 11:00 p.m. on Aug. 1, Jorgensen notes another suspected lightning strike that created problems for an underground cable in the Deer Park area.

“So another crew was out there making repairs and got the power back on to them at about 3:30 this morning. Maybe a maximum of around 100 customers might have been impacted,” added Jorgensen. “Then there were several smaller issues that were keeping our staff running to try to address and get to. The weather didn’t help at all with such high electrical activities, so lightning in the area. We do have to keep our staff safe as well.”

Jorgensen reminds residents to always make safety first when dealing with electrical issues of any kind throughout the city.

“If they ever come across any sort of damaged infrastructure, electrical, or if they’re not sure, so, damaged enclosures, open lids, all of those sorts of things, as well as downed lines, do not go near it,” warns Jorgensen. “Make sure you contact the Electric, Light and Power department.”

During the day, residents can contact 403-342-8274.

For evenings, weekends, and holidays, contact 403-348-5700.

by Sheldon Spackman

Attempted theft of copper wire causes power outages in Red Deer

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