Skip to content

Hydro One crews working to restore power to tens of thousands

20201116201156-5fb32e64ed5556cf1fd073dajpeg

Hydro One says its crews have been working flat out to restore power for thousands of customers after what it's calling the most significant storm in over two years, warning that some customers might not be reconnected for several days. 

In a news release late Monday, the utility said crews have restored power to 370,000 customers affected by the wind storm that started Sunday in southern and central Ontario and was continuing to move east.

But it said it expected additional outages as the storm moved towards Belleville and Kingston. Parts of central Ontario were also experiencing whiteout conditions, it said, making it hard for crews to work.

"Crews continue to work through challenging conditions to restore power to our customers as quickly and as safely as possible," Chief Operating Officer David Lebeter said in the news release.

"To assist with restoration efforts, Hydro One is receiving support from neighbouring utilities and sent additional crews to the hardest hit areas. However, we anticipate that some customers could be without power for several days."

The utility said early Monday morning that some 238,000 homes and businesses had yet to be reconnected after wind gusts topping 100 km/h started lashing the province Sunday.

The outage area stretched from Windsor, Ont., in the south to the region of Sudbury, Ont., in the north, and all the way east to the Ottawa area.

By Monday evening, Hydro One said more than 96,600 customers were still affected, and that the storm had damaged approximately 400 poles.

In many places the powerful winds knocked downed trees and branches that pulled down power lines, some of which blocked roads.

A damaged COVID-19 testing centre in Brampton, Ont., had to close for the day as staff repaired the outdoor facility at South Fletcher's Sportsplex.

All appointments scheduled for Monday at the centre were cancelled and the William Osler Health Centre said patients were being contacted directly to help them rebook.

The utility called it the most significant storm since May 2018.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2020.

The Canadian Press


Looking for Ontario News?

VillageReport.ca viewed on a mobile phone

Check out Village Report - the news that matters most to Canada, updated throughout the day.  Or, subscribe to Village Report's free daily newsletter: a compilation of the news you need to know, sent to your inbox at 6AM.

Subscribe