BY MICHAEL JAMES
In the wake of the most extensive power blackout in North American history, City of Greater Sudbury officials are urging the citizens of the City of Greater Sudbury to continue their efforts at energy conservation.
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The application of energy conservation is still critical, said acting chief administrative officer Doug Wuksinic at a press conference Monday.
Â?We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis,Â? Wuksinic said.
In the meantime, the CityÂ?s Emergency Response Plan remains in full force until further notice, he said.
In a televised public address Sunday evening, Ontario premier Ernie Eves stressed there isnÂ?t enough available power to meet the provinceÂ?s energy needs at the present time.
In order to avoid further rolling blackouts, citizens across the affected areas in Ontario all need to use energy wisely until the provinceÂ?s power grid is back up to full generating capacity, Eves said.
In keeping with the province-wide energy reduction plan, the City of Greater Sudbury will be operating at reduced service levels until the situation has stabilized.
Essential municipal services, such as police, fire, emergency medical services and public works operations, will remain fully operational.
City managers have decided to ask all workers deemed non-essential to remain off work for the remainder of this week.
The provinceÂ?s power grid is expected to be up to full capacity if there are no further incidents of rolling blackouts by the end of this week.
Up-to-the-minute information will be available via the City of Greater Sudbury website, which will be updated hourly, Wuksinic said.
The cityÂ?s website has also been upgraded to include links to the Sudbury and District Health Unit and Greater Sudbury Utilities, as well as relevant federal and provincial websites.
John Jeza, executive vice-president of Greater Sudbury Utilities Inc., was also on hand to provide an update on the energy situation, both locally and
provincially.
Having spoken with officials at the Independent Market Operator (IMO), Jeza said the situation remains tenuous and will remain so for the next couple of days.
Since the resumption of power last Friday morning, the conservation activities of Sudburians have resulted in 25 per cent less energy consumption than usual, he said.
That said, he expects the warm weather forecasted for the remainder of the week to place higher demands on energy resources.
The challenge, he said, is to maintain that tenuous balance between supply and demand until the IMO indicates the situation has stabilized.
Jeza is cautiously optimistic that will happen some time Thursday.
In light of last weekÂ?s blackout, there are a number of public health and safety issues as well.
According to Ed Gardner, manager of the health and protection division of the Sudbury and District Health Unit, Kagawong and Falconbridge continue to be under boiled water advisories and will continue to be so until further notice.
Â?We have started random water samplings throughout the City of Greater Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to ensure the integrity of the municipal water supply,Â? Gardner said.
The health unit is also monitoring the water quality of city beaches and will notify the public if there is any reason for concern, he said.
As well, food safety continues to be a public health priority.
Â?If in doubt, throw it out,Â? Gardner said.
ItÂ?s important to remember to cook meat thoroughly, he said, especially during barbecue season.
Food safety fact sheets are available at all Sudbury and Manitoulin district health units and grocery stores and can be accessed online at the Sudbury and District Health UnitÂ?s website.
The city has also increased the garbage limit from three bags to five bags for the week of Aug.18 to accommodate the disposal of perishable foods
resulting from the power outage.
Walden residents who normally have Monday garbage pick up, and were not aware of the change, are asked to call 671-2489. The city will make arrangements to pick up the additional bags as soon as possible.
In the aftermath of last weekÂ?s blackout, Greater Sudbury Mayor Jim Gordon is calling on Sudburians to generously donate non-perishable food items to local food banks.
Â?Those in need, who lost a fridge full of groceries...are being particularly hard hit by the blackout,Â? Gordon said. Â?This is especially true for our senior citizens and others on fixed incomes.Â?
Those in need of food assistance are advised to contact social services.
Finally, all baseball, tennis and soccer matches scheduled after dark and requiring lighting have been cancelled until further notice.
The Bell Park boardwalk will also be closed after 11 pm for health and safety reasons.
