Thieves swipe copper wire from Manitoba Hydro substation
by Mark Cowan
Copper theft forced Manitoba Hydro to temporarily cut power to about 1,200 customers in southeast Manitoba.
The theft happened overnight at a Richer-area substation, where wires were cut out. Manitoba Hydro discovered the theft Tuesday morning after receiving a number of service calls from customers. To allow crews to safely repair the damage related to the theft, power had to be shut off, a spokesperson said.
Copper theft has been a problem in many municipalities due to its high value on the scrap metal market.
Copper wire thefts at Manitoba Hydro raise substation safety concerns “It’s been an ongoing issue over the last number of months if not years — not only in that area but around southern Manitoba,” said Hydro spokesman Bruce Owen. The Crown corporation has taken steps to track its wires.”These thieves have to know that our copper is marked,”
17th May 2016
Source: cbc.ca
