JOHN JANTAK
The 1019 Report

In the wake of major power outages caused by a late-season snowstorm earlier this month that left thousands of households without power in St. Lazare for more than a day, Hydro-Québec has vowed to be out on the streets this summer to trim back tree branches near power lines.

“Most of the breakdowns are due to the vegetation, like trees and branches, that fall onto power lines,” said Hydro regional spokesperson Mélanie Destrempes.

Hydro is working with the city to develop a plan to tackle the overgrowth of trees, branches and other vegetation within their servitudes beginning this summer and for the next two years as part of its Action Plan 2035.

On April 4, the vast majority of homeowners in St. Lazare were left without power, as heavy snow blanketed the region and temperatures dipped. Many homeowners in Hudson and Rigaud were also affected.

Hydro’s action plan aims to reduce the number of power outages across the province by 35 per cent over the next seven to 10 years. And St. Lazare is one of the areas it will focus on this year and next.

“There’s a lot of vegetation in St. Lazare,” Destrempes said in an interview with The 1019 Report. “It’s a big issue there, and there’s a lot of work to be done.

“Almost 100 per cent of the breakdowns are because branches and trees fall on the power lines,” she added. 

Part of Hydro’s plan is to communicate with property owners to make sure they understand the importance of keeping power lines clear of all vegetation.

“A communication plan is being developed with the municipality,” Destrempes said. “It’s not just about cutting trees. We want to make sure Hydro service remains reliable. There are a lot of expectations from the citizens that we work closely with to increase the quality of service.”

The last time Hydro-Québec did maintenance work clearing trees and branches within their servitudes in St. Lazare was between 2017 and 2019 as part of a three-year pilot project.

“It was a three-year pilot project where they did a major cutting and trimming,” said St. Lazare Mayor Geneviève Lachance. “There were six targeted lines that were addressed.”

“Their data showed it had a really positive impact on the reduction of power outages,” Lachance explained. “But trees grow back, and this is something that needs to be done continuously.”

Lachance is calling on residents to allow work crews to have access to their properties if necessary.

“Sometimes, homeowners refuse to let Hydro-Québec to go onto their land to cut trees or trim branches,” she said.

“You just need one resident that says no for their tree to take down the power lines,” she said. “This can sometimes be an issue.”

“If there are power lines in a backyard, it’s a joint responsibility between the private owners and Hydro-Québec to maintain the trees,” she added.