On hold: Maritime Electric halts plans for high voltage lines in Millvale, P.E.I.

Maritime Electric has put its plans for new proposed high voltage transmission lines and substation on hold until it hears more from the community.

John Gaudet, president and chief executive officer said it was clear more work had to be done after he and company representatives heard from concerned, and at times angry residents at a public meeting Tuesday night.

"We heard tonight that people aren't happy with the way this project unfolded and we frankly have to agree and take some criticism for it," said Gaudet. "It wasn't rolled out the way we wanted to roll it out."

• Millvale, P.E.I., residents concerned with high-voltage lines

Maritime Electric apologized for that and said it will create a working group and work with Millvale, P.E.I., area residents to try and come up with another route or solution before going ahead with the project.

"Doing nothing is not an option for us," said Gaudet. "We have growing electrical needs in the area that have to be met but that said, we will take a second and a third look at the routing and the sighting of this facility to work with the community to see if we can find a lesser impact route."

Sharon Labchuk, an area resident, said she plans to be on that working group.

"We had a full house tonight, we have a petition, 100 per cent have signed the petition we've got an online petition when I left home tonight there was 1,100 people signed it," said Labchuk.

"They know we mean business and they can't walk all over us."

Residents expressed their concerns over property values and obstructed views. Others even gave the utility suggestions of better routes for the 10 km of new 69 kV transmission lines and new substation.

The substation is proposed to go on St. Mary's Road in Millvale but many at the meeting were concerned about the noise. Maritime Electric said the noise should not be above 55 decibels based on a study conducted by Stantec.

Demands high

Maritime Electric held the meeting to show the community why the project has to go ahead and the work that has been done. The utility said there is a need for another substation because the loads on the substations in Rattenbury, P.E.I., and Hunter River, P.E.I., are too high.

The company also explained why they chose that route, telling the community it was mostly because of accessibility. But distance, customer impact,joint poles, and use of right of way as much as possible for easier maintenance all factored into the decision of the location.

Those at the meeting heard the project description was approved by Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission and was quickly given approval by the Department of Environment and Department of Transportation.