NB Power spending $5.1M more on tree trimming because of Arthur damage

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick's electric utility is spending an extra $5.1 million this year on tree trimming to improve reliability of the power grid.

NB Power president Gaetan Thomas says customers are experiencing more than the usual number of outages because of trees damaged by the high winds and heavy rains churned out by post-tropical storm Arthur this summer.

As Arthur blew through the province July 5, there was widespread flooding and prolonged power outages.

At the peak of the storm, more than 140,000 NB Power customers were without electricity.

Thomas says he understands that customers are frustrated by power outages.

He says the increased spending brings the utility's tree trimming expenditure for 2014-15 to $12.1 million.