Although there was an increase in the number of spills from previous years, the total volume was lower due to the smaller quantity of oil released in each instance. Six of the 11 spills in 2009 were remediated; the remaining five are being monitored or risk-managed for future clean up. The reason some sites can’t be remediated immediately after a spill is the pressing need to restore power. Future remediation requires scheduling a power outage.
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Management
In the fall of 2008, Environment Canada published amended PCB regulations mandating the removal of all PCB equipment (> 50 ppm) and material from service over an end-of-use period ranging from 2009 to 2025. Starting in the late 1990s, ENMAX Power developed and implemented comprehensive testing and inventory programs, which led to the active removal and replacement of PCB equipment from our electrical system.
As a result of ENMAX Power's environmental programs targeting the elimination of PCBs from our electrical equipment, today all transformers contain less than 50 ppm PCBs. Over the past year, ENMAX Power has focused on PCB testing of sealed oil-filled equipment.