Two major power outages in 24 hours: update from Mayor Marquis

Jan 24, 2025

Following the two major power outages that left nearly 5,000 Edmundston Energy customers in the dark and cold, and the same number of NB Power customers elsewhere in Madawaska, Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis urgently spoke with NB Power senior management and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt.

The two outages, 24 hours apart, occurred on New Brunswick Power's high-voltage transmission system, but the source remains under investigation by the utility. 

Edmundston Energy's electrical distribution system is stable and well maintained. When major outages occur, it is almost always due to a failure on the NB Power transmission system, which we have been asking NB Power to invest in for many years,’ explained Mayor Marquis. 

To reiterate the importance of investment and the implementation of an action plan, the mayor held discussions with the vice-president of NB Power and members of her team. "Right now, we're being told that there are possibly two problem areas on the transmission line. Repairs should be made over the weekend on the lines and at the Iroquois substation. Other assessments will also be carried out over the next few days." 

The mayor also mentioned the need to invest in the distribution network. NB Power and Edmundston Energy will be holding meetings in the coming weeks to examine options. 

He has also spoken with Premier Susan Holt on the subject. She will be in Edmundston in early February to discuss the matter in greater detail, and has pledged to support the City of Edmundston in its efforts. 

"NB Power is a key partner and we've always had an excellent collaboration. We are confident that together, we will be able to put in place long-term solutions to avoid these problematic situations, which cause enormous inconvenience for the public and very significant economic impacts for businesses," concluded Mayor Marquis.

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CONTACT: Mayor Eric Marquis, 506.739.2115