Newsroom

    TORONTO, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - Hydro One has restored power to more than
130,000 customers affected by the high winds and heavy snow that hit the
province late Saturday night. Approximately 25,000 Hydro One customers remain
without power, with many expected to be back on this evening.
    Hydro One crews are removing fallen trees from lines, replacing broken
poles and re-stringing damaged sections of line in the Penetanguishene,
Bracebridge, Barrie, Orillia and Huntsville areas. More than 900 line
maintainers, foresters, system controllers and other staff are focused on
getting the power back on for customers as quickly and as safely possible.
Helicopters have aided the search for damage and have delivered crews and
equipment to remote locations to repair damage.
    The Company expects that some customers in the hardest hit and remote
areas may be without power until later this week. The Company will continue to
update the status of its restoration efforts.The most impacted areas include:

    ------------------------------------------
                          Number of Hydro One
    Area Most Impacted     Customers Affected
    ------------------------------------------
    Penetanguishene               9,700
    ------------------------------------------
    Bracebridge                   4,800
    ------------------------------------------
    Barrie                        4,700
    ------------------------------------------
    Orillia                       2,500
    ------------------------------------------
    Huntsville                    2,400
    ------------------------------------------"We appreciate how difficult it is to be without electricity, especially
with cold temperatures," said Myles D'Arcey, Senior Vice President, Customer
Operations, Hydro One. "Our crews will continue to work as quickly and safely
as possible until every one of our customers is back on."

    Important Safety Information

    Hydro One strongly urges people to take extra precaution near fallen
power lines. Even if a fallen wire seems dead, it can be dangerous. People are
urged to report to Hydro One the location of the fallen wires as soon as
possible. Touching a vehicle that is in contact with a power line can be
fatal.
    For the most recent information on power outages go to
www.HydroOneNetworks.com.

    Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes
and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's
28,000 kilometre high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity
to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 125,000 kilometre
low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use
customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly
owned by the Province of Ontario.