Picture this: the lights flicker off unexpectedly, casting your space into darkness, the familiar hum of appliances going silent. Yet, amid this uncertainty (and maybe a hint of frustration), imagine receiving a notification from Hydro Ottawa with information to help you plan accordingly.
That's the power of Hydro Ottawa’s Outage Alerts. Now, residential and business customers can get the latest outage updates via SMS/text or email to help make these moments less stressful.
As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping you connected, we launched Outage Alerts on December 15, 2023. Here is what you need to know.
What to expect with outage alerts
Outage Alerts sends you a notification within 10 to 15 minutes after we detect a power outage in your area.
They go beyond simply notifying you of unplanned outages. Whether it's an unforeseen disruption or planned outage, you'll receive timely updates from Hydro Ottawa as part of this service. The alerts also include estimated times of restoration (because your plans matter), and real-time restoration status updates to ensure you're not left in the dark, figuratively speaking. Finally, you will receive a confirmation once power has been fully restored, offering peace of mind whether you're returning home to a well-lit space or ensuring your business operations are back in action.
And for those who appreciate a heads up, other types of messages you might receive may include our popular Weather Watch notifications that warn customers of possible power outages before they occur.
To start receiving alerts about power outages affecting your home or business, you need to be signed up for MyAccount. The good news is, if you were already using MyAccount at the time of our service launch, Outage Alerts were automatically activated for you! For those who are new to MyAccount, you can easily register online.
Customize your experience in MyAccount
The best part is, you have the power to choose how you receive these alert notifications! Depending on your communication preferences, you’ll receive either an SMS/text or an email notification. Plus, you can easily customize your other settings within MyAccount, deciding when and how you get alerts or even opting to unsubscribe.
When managing your preferences in MyAccount, be sure to explore the settings that determine who will receive these alerts. In our commitment to keeping everyone informed, Outage Alerts lets you include up to five emails or two phone numbers to your account. So whether you’re managing a household or running a business, everyone can stay in the loop.
For residential customers, it guarantees that every member of your household, from family members to roommates, receives timely information about service interruptions. Businesses can enhance their communication by adding key personnel to stay informed. If you're a landlord or property manager, consider taking advantage of Outage Alerts by adding tenants for a more efficient way of sharing information that might impact their address.
To start managing your preferences – log in to your MyAccount.
While Outage Alerts offer a convenient way to stay informed, Hydro Ottawa will continue to provide outage information for service interruptions via our Outage Map and social media channel, X (formerly Twitter).
For more information about Outage Alerts, and to find answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our webpage.
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