10 years after DarkNL, Hydro says it can handle heavy electricity demand

Wintry weather has been known to put a drain on Newfoundland and Labrador's power supply.

Ten years ago this week, a record demand for electricity plunged tens of thousands of people into darkness, somefor up to a week.

DarkNL, as it came to be known, underscored the weaknesses in the provincial power supply, while triggering investigations and a massive surge in spending on electrical infrastructure.

A decade later, Newfoundland and LabradorHydro says it's capable of handlingthe province's electricity needs due to having multiplepower sources.

This past weekend, the first snowstorm of the year hit eastern Newfoundland.

Rob Collett, Hydro's vice-president of engineering, said at its peakthe provincial utility was generating more than 1,600 megawatts.

"This past weekend we had about 450 megawatts coming over the Labrador-Island link," he said.

That equates to about one-quarter of the power being used at the peak. About one-fifthof the power was being generated by the aging Holyrood generating station, and the rest came fromHydro's other facilities on the island.

"Our supply really gets tested by these cold snaps, but our generation and the Labrador-Island link really hung in well over this past weekend and we had a reliable service for customers," Collett said.

The Labrador-Island link, completed last year, carries electricity from Muskrat Falls in Labrador to Newfoundland.

Collett said Hydro is still working through "infancy issues" with the link, so the Holyrood generating station will continue serving the province as those are worked out.

WATCH I Why this January is different from the one 10 years ago that saw DarkNL descend upon the province:

10 years since DarkNL. Recent frigid temperatures. How is N.L.s power supply faring?

9 months ago

Duration 0:47

It hasnt been smooth sailing or all bright lights for Newfoundland and Labradors power supply. Ten years ago this month, thousands were left in the dark for up to a week and major infrastructure weaknesses were revealed in the power grid. N.L. Hydro has something to cheer about, though, after recent temperatures in the minus 20s and 30s with wind chill in multiple parts of the province have put the system to the test.

"We have had some minor issues but nothing that will take the whole link down, just things that we can work with and refine and we expect to see continual improvement in its performance in the years ahead."

Collett said the Labrador-Island link is performing well, and Holyrood will likely be retired within the next decade.

"Our view is that we need to build a new generation to replace itand meet the growing demand from everyone switching to home electric heat and switching to electric vehicles as well."

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