With power outages going off at a record-breaking rate in Allumettes Island this year, with an all-time high of 22 in July, municipal staff are growing impatient . . .

searching for answers.

According to media relations consultant with Hydro Quebec Isabelle Nuckle, a team of Hydro Quebec representatives have spent the last month analyzing the situation and have acknowledged that the issue needed to be addressed.

She noted that they have repaired two broken electrical wires in the municipality.

However, with outages still happening on a continuous basis, the same team of workers is expected to return to the island to work on more projects.

Last year, Hydro Quebec employees did substantial work in the municipality regarding managing vegetation along the lines, which leads her to believe that the outages are likely caused by issues with the electrical lines rather than nature.

“We can’t determine exactly what it is at the moment,” she said.

After contacting Hydro Quebec on multiple occasions throughout the summer, only to get no answer, Mayor Winston Sunstrum said he has finally gotten in touch with the corporation.

Last week, Sunstrum received a surprising voicemail message from Hydro Quebec’s Director General for the Outaouais and Laurentides regions, Martin Perrier

In the message, Perrier noted that he had sent a team of employees to work some of the lines in the municipality and inspect the town’s electrical equipment. He also acknowledged the unprecedented rate of power outages, over the course of the summer.

Sunstrum noted that a planned outage took place on the morning of Aug. 20 and that things have gotten relatively better since getting in touch with Hydro Quebec.

“We didn’t have any interruptions,” he said. “It has improved since we’ve communicated with them.

However, the municipality is still seeking more information on the matter, Sunstrum said.

According to Sunstrum, Perrier showed an interest in organizing a meeting with municipal council to discuss the issue.

For Sunstrum, the biggest incentive behind speaking with Hydro Quebec representatives is finding a way to provide consistent electricity for everyone in Allumettes Island.

In the meantime, the most pressing issue is for Hydro Quebec to be transparent with its customer base, Sunstrum said.

“It’s frustrating when things are not going right but you can’t get any information on it,” he said.

Sunstrum said he would like to set up a program where Hydro Quebec could update local residents on their plans when it comes to addressing the problem.

With multiple electrical lines feeding different parts of the municipality, the town finds itself in a unique situation, Sunstrum said.

He explained that with numerous companies involved, including two Ontario enterprises, the probability of power outages taking place goes up significantly.

In a perfect world, the municipality would be solely connected to a single power source, Sunstrum said.

“Ideally, we would only be hooked up to the Quebec system,” he said. “The hydro coming from the Bryson power station is much more consistent than what we are receiving at the moment.”

For Sunstrum, a substitution of providers would be positive for the region, especially in the Waltham area. A few years ago, municipal council raised the issue with Hydro Quebec. However, since it would be an expensive project, he isn’t convinced Hydro Quebec is on his side.

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