The famous storms that got the better of the national holiday in Quebec cost $ 2,045,000 in Hydro-Québec in overtime and external resources.
On June 23, a stormy cell caused strong rain, wind, gusts and many inconveniences in the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches. At the height of the meteorological event which caused power outages, 132,812 addresses were without electricity. The next day at the end of the day, the teams in place had managed to reconnect 72 % of customers.
In a request for access to information, Hydro-Québec confirms that overtime for this event have stood up until June 26 for a total of 8,769 overtime. The estimated cost is $ 745,000.
The document specifies that external resources have also been used at an estimated cost of $ 1,300,000, in particular for posts of planting of posts and in connection with the vegetation
.
Although these thunderstorms have hit hard in the region, this is not a major event for Hydro-Québec. In 2022, the Derecho which flew over several regions had caused 160,000 hours of work, including overtime, and the total cost estimated to manage the crisis was $ 70 million.
A holiday
It was in the context of a holiday working day that Hydro-Québec had to call many teams at work. The Crown corporation even had to call on the administrative labor court to guarantee the mobilization of the teams.
The request for access specifies that workers do not receive bonuses to enter work during public holidays, but that they are paid in the form of additional time, as provided for in the law and collective agreements
.
A tree was seen on a road from Sainte-Brigitte-de-Laval the day after the thunderstorms.
Photo: Gracieuse: Mathieu Thomassin
On June 25, Hydro-Québec had indicated that 10 % of line editors responded to requests to return to work, while the employer expected a response rate of at least 40 %. Union shares were responsible for this sub-performance, according to the employer, but the union had assured that the means of pressure affecting the public were not in the plans
.
The Crown corporation had then mentioned having to turn to the private sector to compensate for the situation.
It should be noted: the number of overtime hours worked during the holiday was still amounted to 3405. The most busy day was however the next day, when 4,263 overtime was worked.