Regional hospital fires up new electrical system
By Contributor
Construction of a $2 million Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) electrical system upgrade is now complete and the system is on-line. KBRH fully switched over to the new system today. “Having adequate and uninterrupted power is obviously vital to any health care facility, so I’m pleased to see this important investment in the regional hospital for the Kootenay Boundary is complete,” said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. The project is funded jointly by Interior Health through Ministry of Health Services (60 percent) and by West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District (40 percent) (WKBRHD). “KBRH is the regional hospital for all communities supported by the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District,” said Marguerite Rotvold, WKBRHD Chair. “I’m glad our investment in this electrical upgrade is now benefiting patients and staff at this site.” The former electrical system at KBRH consisted of components installed in 1993 and 2000 and it had become difficult to find replacement parts and make repairs on these outdated components. Improvements will address key emergency power systems and upgrade the entire system. Specifically, the project included replacing and relocating both generators and replacing the primary distribution system.
“It’s great to see all the improvements happening at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital – through our traditional capital process with the Ministry of Health Services and the ongoing commitment and support of the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District, our other community partners, and thanks to the tremendous generosity of the people in the Kootenay Boundary,” said Norman Embree, Interior Health Board Chair.
