Hydro One And The City of Peterborough Plant 500 Trees In Ashburnham Memorial Park To Restore Urban Canopy From Last May's Derecho

During Canadian Environment Week, Hydro One and the City of Peterborough helped plant 500 trees at Ashburnham Memorial Park on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the derecho on Wednesday morning.

Jenn McCallum, co-founder of the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group, her dog Blitz and her group of volunteers helping Hydro One and The City of Peterborough plant 500 trees in Ashburnham Memorial Park to help restore the city’s urban canopy after last year’s derecho. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Several volunteers from the Ashburnham Memorial Stewardship Group were on site also lending a hand. Councillors Joy Lachica, Gary Baldwin and Kieth Riel were also in attendance for the event.

Students were originally invited to aid in the tree planting but the air quality conditions were deemed unsafe for the kids to participate.

Hydro One had worked around the clock in order to restore power and help offset any damage caused by the storm. It inspired the company to do something positive for the community according to Teri French, Hydro One executive vice president.

“After the May long-weekend storm last year, I saw first-hand the devastation to the community of Peterborough,” she said. “Responding to this initiative, this tree planting provides such a great benefit for the community and the environment.”

The trees came from Hydro One’s community investment team which was able to supply the funding.

French says this tree planting is more important than ever now than ever before considering the benefits they give and seeing the latest weather conditions in Peterborough and beyond.

“Climate change especially over the last couple days, I think we've realized the importance that providing an urban canopy provides for communities,” she explained.

The City also ran a tree giveaway on Wednesday afternoon shortly after the event. All 250 trees were given away as the City thanked everyone who came out to pick one up according to a Twitter post.

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Crews Arrive From The US To Help Local Hydro And Forestry Workers After One Of The Most Deadly Wind Events In Canadas History

Crews crossed the border on Monday to assist crews already working to clean up from Saturday’s storm in Ontario, Hydro One announced on their social media pages.

According to Hydro One, in the first 24 hours after destructive thunderstorms passed through the province, Hydro One crews have restored power to more than 360,000 customers throughout its affected areas in Ontario, with over 226,000 customers that remain without power.

Damage includes at least 800 broken poles, and just as many downed power lines, along with countless trees and large branches causing power outages.

This is Caleb. He is one of almost 100 hydro workers here from Alabama. Thank you very much gentlemen for coming to ⁦@CityPtbo⁩ to help us out. “200 poles to do and none of them are easy”. I wish all of you a safe, productive day. We are grateful 🥹 pic.twitter.com/QTisN7xRMO

— Councillor Lesley Parnell (@LesleyParnell) May 24, 2022

According to The Weather Network, Saturday’s storm was a Derecho. The term derecho is Spanish for "straight head" as most of the associated wind damage is the result of straight-line winds that blast out of the storm, as opposed to tornadoes that spin.

The Weather Network reported Saturday’s derecho was one of the most destructive and deadly wind events in Canada’s history.

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Locations Open To Charge Devices Around The City As Power Outages Continue

Multiple locations in The City of Peterborough will be open on Tuesday to allow residents to charge devices and mobility aids.

Stock Photo.

The following locations will be available for charging devices (regular services at the locations will not be available):

• Peterborough Public Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Healthy Planet Arena, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Peterborough Museum and Archives, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Anyone charging devices at the facilities needs to bring their own charging cables. Public washrooms are also available at each of the locations.

While power has started to be restored in some parts of the City, many areas are still without power.

Many traffic signals at intersections remain without power, creating four-way stops that can cause traffic congestion and delays for emergency services when responding to calls.

Emergency services are urging residents to avoid non-essential travel at this time.

Emergency services remind residents to only use 9-1-1 for emergencies – please do not call 9-1-1 for updates on the outage or to report a downed power line.

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Hydro One & GlobalMedic Deliver 500+ Critical Aid Kits To Curve Lake First Nation

Hydro One and GlobalMedic—a registered Canadian charity specializing in disaster relief—have announced the delivery of more than 500 critical aid kits of food and safety supplies to Curve Lake First Nation to support those in need.

Photo courtesy Hydro One

A total of 13,500 kits made up of staple food items, reusable face masks and soap will be provided to Indigenous communities across the province.

Curve Lake First Nation will be distributing the kits at their physically distant Celebration of Sharing event on December 17th, where community members can access additional supports including meals for the holidays.

Kits of critical aid packed by Hydro One volunteers and GlobalMedic. (photo courtesy Hydro One)

“Given the unprecedented nature of this pandemic, we are grateful to have the support of community partners such as Hydro One and GlobalMedic,” says Chief Emily Whetung, Curve Lake First Nation.

“With the higher rates of complicating health factors in First Nation communities, every little bit of support we can provide goes a long way,” she adds. “Distributing these kits at the start of the holiday season will help create a sense of security and support the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

Photo courtesy Hydro One

"We are grateful to work with Indigenous communities during this challenging time," says Penny Favel, Vice President Indigenous Relations, Hydro One.

"Extending our partnership with GlobalMedic is one way we are able to support Indigenous communities and families, including Curve Lake First Nation, to help meet immediate needs.”

Photo courtesy Hydro One

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Hydro One To Acquire Assets Of Peterborough Distribution Inc. From City Of Peterborough

The City of Peterborough and Hydro One have reached an agreement for Hydro One’s acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. (PDI) from the City for $105 million plus terms that include distribution rate guarantees for customers as well as a separate agreement for the construction of a new regional operations centre in Peterborough.

The agreements comprising the transaction meet the terms and conditions approved by Council, including:

- A 1% distribution rate reduction and a five-year freeze in distribution rates for customers
- A second five-year period with distribution rate increases limited to inflation and an earnings sharing mechanism to offset rates in year 11 and onward
- Protections for PDI employees with employees receiving employment offers to move to Hydro One
- A sale price of $105 million
- An agreement to develop a regional operations centre and new fleet maintenance facility in Peterborough on specified pieces of land to be acquired concurrently with the closing of the acquisition of the assets of PDI following regulatory approvals

The agreements are subject to Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval. The OEB regulates the province’s energy sector, including setting rules for electricity companies and establishing rates that energy utilities are permitted to charge.

PDI is one part of the Peterborough Utilities group of companies. PDI includes the “poles and wires” business of Peterborough Utilities. City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. retains ownership of the rest of the group of companies, including its water utility, the Riverview Park and Zoo, metering services, and its power generation business.

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Hydro One Ceases Negotiations For Purchase Of PDI

[UPDATE, March 9th]: Here is what Hydro One says in a press release...

"Hydro One announced today that negotiations on the proposed acquisition of Peterborough Distribution Inc. have ceased as both parties were unable to reach a final agreement.

The role of both parties in these commercial negotiations is to ensure that the end result is an outcome that creates customer and shareholder value. In this particular case, despite the strong offer made to the City of Peterborough, the two parties were unable to achieve that balance.

Hydro One would like to thank Mayor Bennett, the City of Peterborough and members of both negotiating teams and looks forward to continuing its relationship as long-time neighbours and proud members of the Peterborough community."

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ORIGINAL POST

Hydro One has informed the City and City of Peterborough Holdings Inc. that it is withdrawing from negotiations regarding the sale of Peterborough Distribution Inc., according to a City of Peterborough release.

Hydro One first approached the City in 2014 to express interest in purchasing PDI. City Council responded favourably to the opportunity when Hydro One entered into a letter of intent that included a competitive price, job and benefit guarantees for existing PDI workers, distribution rate and other rate protections for customers, and commitments for new jobs and new investments such as building a new regional Hydro One operations centre in Peterborough. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than two years.

According to a media release from the City, PDI executives continue to monitor the pressures and changes affecting the electricity distribution sector on behalf of its sole shareholder, the Corporation of the City of Peterborough.

PDI says it will continue to deliver exceptional service to its customers, thanks to the organization’s employees and management.

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