Cruise ships plugging into P.E.I.’s electrical grid won’t come at the expense of Islanders’ power supply, Maritime Electric says, and if the system ever comes under strain, power to the ships would be cut.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced it would spend $14.3-million on green shipping in P.E.I., including a project that will allow cruise ships docking at Port Charlottetown to connect directly to the province’s electrical grid.
The system, known as shore power, would let vessels shut down their engines while docked but still provide electricity for passengers and onboard operations.
“If we had any problems on our system, it would be an interrupted load. It's an interruptible load,” said Angus Orford, Maritime Electric’s vice-president of corporate planning and energy supply.
An “interruptible load” refers to customers who get a special rate for electricity — likely cheaper — but that comes with the risk of their power supply being cut off during high-demand periods.
