Hydro One Outage Update

TORONTO, Dec. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Hydro One reports that approximately 12,000 customers in its service territory are without power this evening; 6,000 customers of which, have been without power since Sunday, December 22nd.  Newer outages are a result of many snow and ice-covered trees becoming damaged and interfering with power lines as temperatures fluctuate.

The areas most impacted in Hydro One's service territory are listed below:

Area Affected         Number of Impacted Customers
Bolton         1014
Dundas         707
Orillia         894
Guelph         2523
Picton         836
Orangeville         4029
Peterborough         829

"I would like to extend our appreciation to our customers who have offered to feed our crews and cheered them as they work to restore power," said Carm Marcello, President and CEO, Hydro One.   "We are overwhelmed by their generosity of spirit at a time when they are the people that need help.  Their support just pushes us to work harder."

In addition to its own crews, Hydro One continues to receive the support of local distribution companies (LDC) from across the province including, Peterborough PUC , Newmarket Hydro, Sudbury Hydro, North Bay Hydro, Orangeville Hydro, Orillia Hydro, Midland Hydro, Haldimand Hydro.

"We have about 1,200 people on the ground right now, said Carmine Marcello, President and CEO, Hydro One.  "Hydro workers from all different utilities from all over Ontario are zeroing-in on the hardest hit areas. We will keep everyone on the job until our last customer is restored. Then we will offer our help to others who need it."

Local utility assisting with Hydro One restoration         Area in which they are assisting with restoration
Peterborough PUC         Bowmanville
Newmarket Hydro         Newmarket
Sudbury Hydro         Dundas
Haldimand Hydro         Dundas
Orangeville Hydro         Orangeville
North Bay Hydro         Dundas
Orillia Hydro         Guelph
Midland Hydro         Bolton

To report a power outage:
Call 1-800-434-1235 to report a power outage, fallen tree hazard or emergency (24 hours).

Checking for Electrical Damage After a Storm and Arranging for Repairs
After a storm, check around and in your home for potential electrical damage. Remember, if there is serious damage to your home's connection to the electricity system, your utility may not be able to safely restore power to your home. You will have to arrange for a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) to make repairs.  Please check the Ontario Safety Authority website at:
www.esasafe.com/consumers/safety-at-home/safety-tips-for-after-a-storm

Outage information:
To check the status of a power outage in your area check the Hydro One Storm Centre at www.hydroone.com or download the Hydro One app.

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.

The Office of the Fire Marshal offers the following safety tips:

  • Electrically-connected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms will not work when the power is out unless they have battery back-ups. Make sure your home has battery-operated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.
  • Everyone should know how to get out immediately if there is a fire. Plan and practice your escape plan before emergencies happen.
  • Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles or hurricane lamps. If using candles, place them in a secure holder and cover them with a glass chimney, away from children and pets.
  • Propane and charcoal barbecues are for outdoor use only. Do not bring them inside.
  • Purchase generators with recognized approval labels. Make sure the unit has proper connection receptacles and circuit breakers.
  • Portable generators should only be used outdoors and carefully located to ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the home. Allow the generator to cool before refuelling. Refuel the generator outside, following the manufacturer's instructions.Store fuel for the generator in approved containers, outside the home.
  • Use only portable space heaters that have been designed for indoor use and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Provide adequate ventilation by opening a window slightly while the heater is in use. Before refuelling, turn off the heater, wait for it to cool and take the heater outside to refuel.
  • Make sure electric stove elements and small appliances are OFF or unplugged to prevent fires from occurring when the electricity is restored.

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 123,000 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:

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