Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
August 2, 2000    8:00am

Ernie Maas, V.P. Engineering & Operations
(906) 632-5175

Don Sawruk, President
(906) 632-5150

Mackinac Island Electric Power Back on Submarine Cables

Mackinac Island is back to a more normal life as its electric service has been restored.

Edison Sault Electric crews, with able assistance from several outside contractors, working most of the night, restored submarine cable power to Mackinac Island at approximately 5AM Wednesday morning. The standby diesel generators have been turned off and as of 8:30 AM everything was holding together. Immediately upon the restoration of power to the cables, Detroit Edison cable specialists Ace Devillez and Tony Clegg ran infrared tests which showed that the entire system from the St. Ignace substation through to the Pat Chambers Substation on Mackinac Island was functionally sound. However, these tests are also currently showing that the submarine cable in the water was stressed and future electric delivery needs to be reduced and monitored closely.

While the submarine cables have resumed moving electrical power to the Island under somewhat normal conditions and most business and other activities are back to normal, Edison Sault is cautioning Island customers and again appealing to everyone to reduce their electrical use for the remainder of the summer due to the tenuous condition of the submarine cable. Because of this, Edison Sault Electric will continue to treat this as a crisis situation at least through Labor Day and then followed by such time as either a new submarine cable is placed or more permanent diesel generation is located on the Island. Logistical and behind the scenes work has already started in order to bring these new electrical services online as soon as possible.

VERY IMPORTANTLY, Edison Sault Electric is asking all Island residents to do the following in order to reduce electrical usage:

1.  Use fans and turn all air conditioners to 75 degrees
2.  If possible, dial down water heaters to a lower setting
3.  Do laundry between 9PM and 6AM
4.  Turn off all unnecessary lights and appliances

To contact Customer Service, send mail to customerserv@edisonsault.com.

Send mail to information@edisonsault.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: August 16, 2002