A Hydro-Québec line fallen, the Romaine-3 and 4 power stations shut down

The Romaine-3 and Romaine-4 hydroelectric power stations, on the North Shore, have no longer provided electricity since November 19, - has learned. Hydro-Québec confirms that the situation stems from an episode of ice which brought down one of its high-voltage transmission lines over five kilometers.

Romaine-3 produces 395 megawatts (MW) of electricity and Romaine-4 produces 245 MW. They have been shut down since electricity can no longer be transported.

The line gave way on 5 of the 180 kilometers that connect the hydroelectric complex to the Montagnais substation, confirmed Pascal Poinlane, spokesperson for Hydro-Québec, in an interview on the show Side by sidefrom ICI Côte-Nord, Monday.

Mr. Poinlane explains that 75 millimeters of ice accumulated on the linewhich caused 12 drivers and two guards to fall to the ground. The pylons, however, held up.

Hydro-Québec is using nine helicopters and drones to try to de-ice the line and its teams are in the process of opening a ground access path to carry out the repairs.

The Crown corporation does not know when the line will be repaired.

In the meantime, the Romaine reservoirs are accumulating water which can later be used to produce electricity.

Hydro-Québec assures that the situation has no impact on customers’ power supply. As the winter peak period has not yet arrived, the remaining hydroelectric resources are sufficient to meet demand.

According to the state-owned company, it is still too early to know the cost of the necessary repairs.

In 2022, the ice forced Hydro-Québec to shut down power stations, including those at Romaine, and production at Churchill Falls, in Labrador, was slowed by half.

Three very high voltage transmission lines are out of service on the North Shore. Helicopters were called in to help clear the ice.

Another ice storm is forecast for Thursday.