The local hydro utility here has never formally done anything but a few advertisements to mark Blackout Day, so when it did this year, the results were more than pleasing to Centre Wellington Hydro General Manager Doug Sherwood.
That Northeast Blackout of 2003 was a massive and widespread power outage that occurred in parts of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Ontario on Aug. 14, at approximately 4:15pm. At the time, it was the most widespread electrical blackout in history. It affected an estimated 10 million people in Ontario and 45 million people in eight U.S. states.
A few years later, Woodstock challenged other Ontario communities to shut off as much power as possible, with the city having the greatest reduction in power being the winner for that day.
Sherwood said of Centre Wellington’s first formal event, “It seemed to go all right. We were pleased with the turnout.”
He said about 150 people attended a community barbecue at Templin Gardens, just off the main street of Fergus from 11am to 2pm on Aug. 14. There was local music performing, as well as the sale of food, with all profits going to the Centre Wellington Food Bank. Sherwood said the event raised $400.
Sherwood presented Wellington Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott with a T-shirt and explained the event was being held to “raise awareness” of the importance of saving energy.
Arnott said, “I have always felt that Conservatives should champion conservation.”
Arnott agreed that there is likely to be higher and higher costs associated with providing energy, and said it is likely that nuclear power can help solve some of the problems associated with using fossil fuels for power generation.
One bystander told Arnott that nuclear was probably unsafe, but Arnott countered by pointing out it does not produce greenhouse gases, something his challenger acknowledged.
But, Arnott added, while supply is on one side, “We can all, in our day to day lives, conserve energy. Myself included.”
Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj agreed, and liked the way the day was unfolding as people dropped by for lunch and information about conservation.
“We think it’s very important that everyone who consumes energy stops and thinks about it,” she said.
She remembers that day in 2003 very well. She was with her parents in Michigan when the lights went out. She said they were staying in a hotel that immediately set up water restrictions, so they decided to drive home. But, on the car radio “We heard it was worse and worse.”
And, she said, “We had lots and lots of time to sit in the van and discuss what we would do with no hydro.”
She said that neither she nor her parents were equipped in their homes to deal with a serious blackout – then. Today, it is different, with flashlights handy and candles secure and waiting for use.
She cited the power blackout from the previous weekend, when a transformer outside the town shut off hydro from Centre Wellington through Woolwich Township and into Waterloo. She said the only problem they had was figuring what lights were on when the power went off.
Sherwood said people seemed relaxed and his utility received very few calls – which was fortunate because it was not responsible for restoring the system.
The day featured live music by Fergus singer-songwriter Peter Mandic, who performed a number of conservation songs, a raffle for a barbecue, conservation information and resources, and energy-saving giveaways, plus free hats and T-shirts.
Sherwood said it could take some time to determine which community will win the friendly conservation contest because every town is different and those conducting the contest have to consider the uses of power on a similar day. He said with the heat climbing on Aug. 14, there were likely a lot more air conditioning units being used everywhere.
“They’ll analyze our data to see if there was any type of reduction at all,” he said.
