Powered by electrification
April 29, 2026
At Hydro Ottawa, our commitment to a sustainable future isn’t just a corporate goal - it’s operational. And it is visible on the road every day, driven by the people who keep the power flowing. Our Field Operators now lead Hydro Ottawa’s first fully electric mobile fleet. Since March 2026, this team has been fully powered by electric vehicles (EVs), proving that electrification can meet the rigorous demands of our emergency operations. A fleet built for the futureTransitioning to an electric fleet significantly reduces fuel consumption and eliminates tailpipe emissions, even with the high mileage required for utility work. By the numbers:
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Safety and reliability
While their vehicles are high-tech, the mission of our 10 Field Operators remains rooted in public safety and they carry out this mission 24 hours a day, in every kind of weather, across every community we serve from Casselman to Stittsville.
Safety note: If you see a downed power line or a life-threatening electrical emergency, always call 911 immediately. Once emergency services are notified, contact Hydro Ottawa at 613 738-0188. This ensures that firefighters and police, who may be closer, can secure the perimeter while our operators arrive to isolate the electrical hazard.
Established in 2013 to support our 24/7 trouble call division, Field Operators work hand-in-hand with our System Office to guide crews, contractors and emergency responders through complex electrical situations. Their annual impact includes:
- 1,500+ orders to operate (OTOs): safely isolating sections of the grid to create safe work zones for crews and emergency personnel.
- 900+ emergency responses: managing more than 200 calls from Ottawa Fire Services and roughly 700 other emergency trouble calls annually.
- 500+ vault inspections: ensuring the "safe rooms" that house high-voltage equipment remain secure.
- 250+ isolations: physically disconnecting equipment to guarantee 100 per cent safety for repair crews.
- 180+ outage responses: rapidly restoring service to minimize downtime for our community.
- 108+ line patrols: physical inspections of overhead and underground infrastructure to spot damage and possible outage causes.
Precision tools for critical decisions
To manage the complexities of the grid, operators rely on a suite of advanced digital mapping and communication tools. By using secure, integrated dispatch and grid-visualization software, they can instantly pinpoint damage and coordinate switching operations with surgical precision.
Their specialized field gear includes:
- Arc-flash protective equipment (including 140-cal suits). Used in high-voltage environments like substations, they are engineered to withstand heat in excess of 35,000 °F (or three times hotter than the surface of the sun).
- Potential testers to verify equipment status before contractors can safely begin work.
- EV-powered tools, including pumps for flooded vaults and chainsaws for clearing hazardous debris.
As you see our white electric pickups in your neighbourhood, know they represent more than just a transition to clean energy. They are a mobile promise of our commitment to a more sustainable energy future.