Latest news with #PublicUtilitiesBoard
CNA
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Thai-Cambodia dispute needs to be understood for its centuries-long history: Analyst
CNA938 Rewind - Since when, do we have sinkholes in Singapore? Part of Tanjong Katong Road South collapsed last Saturday, causing a vehicle to plunge into the water-filled hole. The Public Utilities Board said the sinkhole occurred adjacent to its existing worksite, near the junction of Tanjong Katong Road South and Mountbatten Road at about 5 p.m. The driver was rescued by workers and taken conscious to Raffles Hospital, while the affected stretch has been closed for repairs until further notice. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss with Nithish Vattathoor, Consultant Geophysicist, Geophysical Surveys and Consulting.
CNA
28-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Since when, do we have sinkholes in Singapore?
Part of Tanjong Katong Road South collapsed last Saturday, causing a vehicle to plunge into the water-filled hole. The Public Utilities Board said the sinkhole occurred adjacent to its existing worksite, near the junction of Tanjong Katong Road South and Mountbatten Road at about 5 p.m. The driver was rescued by workers and taken conscious to Raffles Hospital, while the affected stretch has been closed for repairs until further notice. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss with Nithish Vattathoor, Consultant Geophysicist, Geophysical Surveys and Consulting.
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Indian migrant helps rescue woman from massive sinkhole in Singapore, earns praise
An Indian migrant worker has earned praise for his quick-thinking after he helped rescue a woman who fell into a sinkhole in Singapore. The sinkhole, filled with water, suddenly opened up a section of Tanjong Katong Road South on Saturday evening and swallowed a car. A car plunged into a large, water-filled sinkhole in Singapore on July 26. Singapore's National Water Agency, known as PUB (Public Utilities Board), said the road collapse happened near one of its active worksites. (Also read: Giant, water-filled sinkhole swallows car in Singapore, woman pulled out alive in dramatic rescue) Indian migrant worker saves a life Site foreman Pitchai Udaiyappan Subbiah was among the first to notice that a car had plunged into the sinkhole. He immediately rushed to help the car's occupant. Subbiah, a 46-year-old site foreman with Ohin Construction, said he heard a sudden sound and saw the sinkhole forming. Realising that a car had gone down the hole, he instructed three of his workers to toss down a nylon rope. The woman opened the door of her car and reached for the rope. Workers then pulled her up until she was close enough to the edge to be lifted out. She was immediately rushed to Raffles Hospital. According to a Channel News Asia report, Subbiah is from India and has worked in Singapore for the last 22 years. Asked how he felt during the rescue, the 46-year-old said, 'I was scared, but every feeling was that this woman must be rescued first. (At the end of everything), I felt thankful that we had saved a life.' 'To me, the fact that someone had fallen in - no matter what happened, we had to rescue her as quickly as possible. That was our thinking, and that was the determination and urgency with which we rescued her,' he explained. Rescue earns applause Subbiah has earned plaudits for his presence of mind that potentially helped save a woman's life. 'Not sure if he qualifies for Permanent Residence but Pitchai surely deserves to be offered,' wrote one person on Reddit. 'Should get a medal and an honorary citizenship that allows him to dual-wield with presumably-existing Republic of India citizenship. He has done more for this country's people than anybody working in CBP and MBFC,' another said. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has also said it will be reaching out to the workers who helped in the rescue to 'commend them for their bravery and prompt action in saving a life.'
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Hydro in planning stages of $6.8 billion bipole project
CTV's Jeff Keele takes a closer look at a planned Manitoba Hydro overhaul of two major transmission projects. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Manitoba Hydro is moving ahead with billions of dollars worth of upgrades for two of the province's major transmission lines. The crown corporation said it needs to replace equipment at the converter stations for the Bipole One and Bipole Two transmission lines, which were built in the 1970s and 80s. Hydro media relations officer Peter Chura said 70 per cent of all electricity generated flows from the north to customers in rest of the province. 'It's very important that we maintain the reliability of the system, by replacing aging infrastructure in that system,' said Chura. The project is in the planning phase with a timeline stretching to 2037, according to a rate application document filed by Manitoba Hydro to the Public Utilities Board (PUB). The current cost estimate is $6.8 billion, but Hydro said that figure could change based on the scope, timing and market conditions. 'It's possible the price could go up, the price could go down, the price could change, but we're doing that work right now to establish those facts,' said Chura. Hydro is currently asking the PUB to approve a 3.5 per cent annual rate increases for the next three years for its operations. A long-term projection forecasts the same amounts. Chris Klassen, from the Public Interest Law Centre which represents not-for-profit groups, said Manitoba Hydro needs to prove why this project is so crucial at this time. 'In the upcoming rate hearing, based on Hydro's history, we'll be asking whether Manitoba Hydro's cost estimates are accurate and whether this expensive project is truly needed now,' said Klassen. That history includes the Bipole Three line and the Keeyask Generating Station, that went $3.7 billion over budget. Premier Wab Kinew defended the costly upgrades, saying this is about building Manitoba's future. 'This is exactly the leverage Manitoba has as a low carbon energy power,' said Kinew.
CBC
16-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Most Manitobans OK with Manitoba Hydro rate hike to maintain reliability, survey suggests
Some Manitobans appear willing to pay higher electricity rates and shift their energy use to nighttime, an opinion poll commissioned by Crown-owned Manitoba Hydro suggests. The findings come as the utility is asking the provincial regulator to approve rate increases in each of three next three years in order to replace aging infrastructure, avoid an increase in power outages and bring new generating power online. "The study found that overall, a majority ... say Manitoba Hydro should make the necessary investments to maintain reliability even if it would increase the average monthly bill," a document filed this month with the Public Utilities Board reads. The survey, conducted by Innovative Research Group in February and filed with the board last week, asked respondents whether they would be willing to pay a certain amount more on their monthly bill to avoid more or longer power outages. Respondents were presented with one of three monthly amounts — $6, $9 and $12. Almost two-thirds of those given the $6 option agreed with the idea of Manitoba Hydro spending more to maintain reliability even if it meant a higher monthly bill. The proportion of support dropped to just under half (49 per cent) for those presented the $12 a month scenario. Respondents were also polled on the possibility of paying different rates at different times of the day in order to persuade people to avoid using power at times of peak demand. Some energy utilities in Ontario already have such a system. More than half of respondents said they would either definitely or probably consider switching to nighttime use if it meant a lower rate for a number of items — running a dishwasher, charging an electric vehicle, using a washer and dryer, or taking a bath or shower. Fewer than half said they would run heating or air conditioning or cook meals more often at night to take advantage of lower rates. The online survey of 1,260 Manitobans was conducted between Feb. 4 and 17. Because the online survey was not a random probability-based sampling, it cannot be assigned a margin of error. Manitoba Hydro has long said it needs more money to prepare for the future and is asking the regulator to approve three annual rate hikes of 3.5 per cent starting next year. In its initial application package in March, the utility said it must spend $31 billion over two decades to maintain and improve existing infrastructure and expand generating capacity. Much of the infrastructure along the Bipole I and Bipole II transmission lines, which carry the bulk of the province's electricity from northern generating stations, is more than 50 years old and past the expected service life, the utility said. The utility has been laying the groundwork to modernize the lines since at least 2022. Manitoba Hydro is also planning to partner with Indigenous-led groups for 600 megawatts of new wind energy. The utility has said it could need new generating power as early as 2029 to meet growing demand. The Manitoba Eco-Network, a non-profit environmental group, said efforts to conserve energy could be more effective than building more power generation in keeping rates down. The group said it plans to question at hearings in the coming months why Manitoba Hydro recently signed export agreements with Saskatchewan and Minnesota utilities at a time when new generating power will soon be needed. "It seems strange to me that they were entering into these export arrangements when we're also saying that we need that power," said executive director James Beddome. The Consumers Coalition, which represents four non-profit groups including the Manitoba branch of the Consumers' Association of Canada, plans to press Manitoba Hydro on efforts to control costs in order to keep rates affordable. "They'll ... be looking for Manitoba Hydro to be keeping things under control inside its own house," said Chris Klassen, a lawyer with the Public Interest Law Centre, who represents the coalition.
