Repairs to the land-based, underground portion of the cable systems serving Mackinac Island have been completed and tested. All land-based portions of the submarine cables that experienced failures have been replaced to eliminate them as a possible source of future failures. The new facilities are presently supplying reliable electric power to customers on the Island.

Those sections of the power supply cables on the Island from the shoreline to the Pat Chambers Switching Station near Stonecliff have been replaced with new cable on a temporary basis until an entire new cable supply system can be installed.

At St. Ignace, the underground portion of the submarine cable supply system has been replaced with overhead lines from the shoreline to the St. Ignace Substation.

The underwater portion of the cable supply system across the Mackinac Straits between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island remains in service. The submarine cables for this portion of the cable supply system have been tested and found to be in a stressed condition. Testing did not reveal any indication of imminent cable failure, but the cables should to be replaced within about two years. Edison Sault is planning to replace both sets of cables by the end of 2001 and is working to replace the cables in at least one of the two power supply circuits yet this year, if adequate replacement cable can be obtained.

Because the submarine cables have been found to be in stressed condition, the current-carrying capability of the cables has been reduced. This means that it is important for Island customers to continue to take all measures to reduce electrical usage by:

• Using fans and setting air conditioners to 75 degrees,

• Dialing down water heaters to a lower setting,

• Doing laundry between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, and

• Turning off all unnecessary lights and appliances.

The diesel generators, along with their operator, are being kept on the Island to continue to provide a backup power supply. Edison Sault plans to keep the diesel generators on the Island until at least the end of September and most probably until one new set of replacement submarine cables is placed in service. The Company will keep the diesel generators on Mackinac Island until it is satisfied that the cable systems supplying Mackinac Island with electric power will continue to do so reliably.

Table of Contents  |  Continue