More than 5,000 customers were without electricity in western Cape Breton Thursday due to a series of power outages. A transmission outage that started around 5 a.m. impacted about 5,400 customers around Chéticamp, Margaree Forks and Little Narrows. By 6:30 p.m., power was restored in the area, according to Nova Scotia Power’s outage map. “Our crews have used a helicopter to patrol and inspect the transmission line, and additional crews are testing the transformer site to identify the cause,” a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power said in a statement to CTV News earlier in the day. The utility says crews discovered a damaged lightning arrestor – a device designed to protect electrical equipment from high-voltage surges – and new equipment would be brought to the site to make repairs as quickly as possible. “Customers in the community of Inverness were restored just before noon after crews were able to switch them to an alternate feeder, bringing the number of customers affected down to about 4000,” reads the statement. “We understand how disruptive outages can be and appreciate our customers’ patience while our crews work safely to restore power.” School closures Schools in the region closed early due to the outages. The Strait Regional Centre for Education originally said there was a two-hour delayed opening at the following schools, which was later changed to a 10:45 a.m. dismissal: CSAP said classes were also cancelled at École NDA. CSAP says classes were also cancelled at École NDA. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
