2,700 without power in Newfoundland

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ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Thousands of people in Newfoundland were without power Saturday following a blizzard that hit the island province Friday, officials said.

About 2,700 customers in Newfoundland were without electricity Saturday afternoon, down from the 75,000 homes and businesses that were without power Friday evening, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. News reported.

Newfoundland Power spokeswoman Michele Coughlan said the company had hoped to get power restored to all customers by noon Saturday. She said crews were still working on smaller feeds and trouble spots.

Karen O'Neill with Newfoundland Hydro, another power supplier, said it is important for people who have had their electricity restored to conserve as much as possible until power has been restored elsewhere.

"People have had their power out for a long time so it causes extra demand on the system, so we just encourage people to conserve where they can," she said.

Snow removal efforts have been making progress in Newfoundland's capital St. John's, officials said.

"The frustration levels might rise a bit with some people in terms of getting a lot of snow pushed in their driveways," said Paul Mackey, the St. John's director of public works. "But we have to get this widened out, because...if we get the cold weather and this freezes, it will be wherever it is for the winter."