Hydro One Ice Storm update

TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Hydro One has deployed all available staff to work on restoration efforts across Ontario. Currently there are over 120,000 Hydro One customers with no power. Freezing rain that started yesterday has caused widespread power outages to Hydro One's distribution system.

Hydro One is working to restore as many customers as possible today, but some customers will be without power overnight.

"Crews are finding tree branches and power lines coated with more than an inch of ice, so restoring power is slow going,"  said Greg Towns, Director of Lines, Hydro One Networks. "We know how important it is to have electricity and are doing everything we can to get the lights back on so families can enjoy their holidays." 

Some of the major areas affected are listed below:

Area Impacted Number of Hydro One
Customers Impacted
Beachville 7,789
Bolton 14,689
Bowmanville 5,201
Dundas 22,108
Guelph 11,084
Kingston 4,281
Listowel 9,053
Newmarket 3,411
Orangeville 12,192
Peterborough 4,757
Picton 14,768
Simcoe 3,359
Walkerton 4,757

What to do in a power outage

If the power system in your area is affected by bad weather, be sure to stay clear of any fallen power lines. If you spot a fallen line, keep at least 10 metres back, even if it does not appear to be live. Report it to the police and call Hydro One at 1-800-434-1235.  Safety is at the core of everything Hydro One employees do. Not only are our crews trained in First Aid, every Hydro One vehicle is equipped with a First Aid kit.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably, and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high- voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 km 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.

SOURCE Hydro One Inc.

For further information:

For more information, contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our website is www.HydroOne.com.