Beneath the hustle and bustle of café’s, shops and restaurants in downtown Dartmouth lays the backbone of
the local power distribution system, including a network of underground cables, switches and transformers.

Built in the 1980s, much of the underground infrastructure that powers this vibrant residential and commercial
neighbourhood is aging and in need of equipment upgrades to minimize the risk of unplanned outages.

Work began in this neighbourhood in 2017 to replace cables and transformers along sections of Portland Street and adjacent side streets, and will continue this spring on Portland Street and Prince Street.

“This neighbourhood is the heart of Dartmouth, with new residents and local businesses popping up daily,” said Peter
Hubley, Nova Scotia Power Supervisor, Transmission and Distribution. “We’re investing in upgrading older underground equipment in this area to ensure we can continue to safely deliver a reliable, cost-effective service to our customers for decades to come.”

Nova Scotia Power crews will be working in the area of Portland Street, from King Street to Alderney Drive, and Prince
Street, from Portland Street to Alderney Drive, over the coming weeks.

For safety purposes, streets and sidewalks may be narrowed at times but access around the work site and into area businesses will be maintained at all times.

Advance notice of any street or sidewalk closure will be provided, however it’s not anticipated that complete closures will be required during this project.

Planned power outages may also be required to allow crews to safely complete portions of this project. Any such outages will be scheduled in advance with affected customers to take place during times that will minimize disruptions as much as possible.

Nova Scotia Power invests approximately $80 million each year on system upgrades, maintenance and improvements to increase service reliability for customers.

Once completed, these upgrades will strengthen the overall electrical system
and help reduce the risk of unplanned outages in downtown Dartmouth.

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Source: Media Release