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Manitoba Hydro Invests in Preventative Maintenance at Key Generating Station

Manitoba Hydro is undertaking a significant overhaul at its largest generating station, Limestone, to ensure the continued reliability and affordability of electricity for Manitobans. The project focuses on replacing small but crucial plastic strips within the station’s ten generating units.

These strips, each about four inches long and resembling sticks of gum, act as wedges, preventing minute movements within the generators during operation. While seemingly simple, these wedges are essential for maintaining the integrity of the equipment.

Plastic wedges (Submitted | Manitoba Hydro)

“While it sounds simple, replacing these strips requires considerable technical skills and precision,” said Hal Turner, Manitoba Hydro’s Chief Operating Officer. He explained that even a tiny movement within the generator, as small as a thousandth of an inch, can lead to excessive wear and potentially catastrophic damage, requiring costly and time-consuming repairs.

Limestone Generating Station, located on the Nelson River, boasts a generating capacity of 1350 megawatts, representing approximately 20 percent of Manitoba Hydro’s total capacity. The replacement of these wedges, costing around $1 million, is a small fraction of the $70 million allocated for maintenance across all ten generating units. However, this preventative measure is crucial, saving potentially millions of dollars in the long run by preventing major equipment failures.

Workers replacing wedges at Limestone Generating Station (Submitted | Manitoba Hydro)

With much of the equipment at Limestone still original from its construction 30 years ago, the station is undergoing additional scheduled maintenance. This includes replacing components nearing the end of their lifespan, a standard practice in Manitoba Hydro’s maintenance programs.

“Replacing the plastic wedges is just one part of what’s being done at the facility right now to ensure Limestone can continue to provide reliable, affordable hydroelectricity to Manitobans for decades to come,” Turner emphasized. The utility’s proactive approach aims to keep electricity rates low while ensuring a stable and dependable power supply for the province.

© 2025 News4.ca

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