Hydro One Updates Efforts To Restore Power After Ice Storm

Power outages affected nearly one million Hydro One customers in what they say is “the most devastating and widespread damage Ontario has faced since the ice storm in 1998.”

Since the start of the storm (March 28, 11 p.m.), crews have restored power to more than 83 per cent of customers affected. However, significant damage continues to be discovered. To date, crews have identified 1,707 broken poles.

Yesterday’s high winds, freezing rain and thunderstorms caused scattered outages in parts of southwest Ontario affecting 9,000 customers along with 21,000 customers in central Ontario. This weather system slowed restoration and grounded helicopters however, today’s weather allows for restoration to continue as planned. As the fog dissipates four helicopters are in the air to support restoration work as well.

As crews finish restoration in areas, they are being redeployed to support the hardest hit areas which continue to be Peterborough and the surrounding area, Orillia and the surrounding area and Fenelon Falls. Additional resources through Mutual Assistance agreements means a total of 3,800 Hydro One team members, contractors and other LDC resources on the ground supporting the restoration efforts.

Restoration in the hardest hit areas will continue in the coming days, with most customers back online by the weekend. For remote areas, including customers who can only be reached by water, restoration may take longer. Road access continues to be a challenge in the most impacted areas, along with safety concerns of tree branches and limbs coming down.

Important safety tips for customers at this time include:

• Turning off the stove or any elements that may have been in use when the power went out.
• Some areas are also starting to be affected by flooding. If flooding occurs at home and water starts to reach electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or furnace, customers should call us at 1-800-434-1235 to have power safely turned off. Do not enter any flooded areas, such as the basement, until power is disconnected.

In addition, customers that have damage to their home’s electrical equipment (ex. stack/pipe where the powerline from the road connects to their home), need to have a licensed electrician make the necessary repairs. Customers can learn more about the steps to take through the Electrical Safety Authority- https://esasafe.com/safety/storm-safety/restoring-power/.

Below is the updated regional breakdown by operations centre that includes number of outages and customers restored since the beginning of the storm on Friday, March 28, and the number of active outages and customers without power at this time.

Please note these areas do not align with municipal boundaries as they are our broken down by Hydro One operations centres.