Let’s talk about something that probably isn’t on your mind… until it is: power outages.
Hydro Ottawa works around the clock to keep the lights on for more than 364,000 homes and businesses, but sometimes things go dark. So, what’s causing these interruptions? From wild weather to squirrel mischief, let’s break down the main reasons your power might go out, how Hydro Ottawa works to prevent outages, and what you can do to stay safe and informed.
What it is: When intense weather — like heavy snowfall, freezing rain, strong winds, and lightning — hits the grid hard, it can knock out power to entire neighbourhoods.
Example: Think of the April 2023 weather event, where Ottawans grappled with a mix of rain, freezing rain, fog, and gusty winds reaching up to 60 km/h. The prolonged freezing rain led to substantial ice accumulation on trees and wires, causing major power outages across the city.
What Hydro Ottawa does: Each time severe weather damages the grid, we dedicate significant resources to repair affected infrastructure and restore service. Hydro Ottawa is taking the valuable insights learned from past weather events to adapt our planning and construction practices, renew and expand our distribution infrastructure, reduce and mitigate climate impact on the grid, and build back stronger. And of course, our dedicated crews who work tirelessly in all conditions to keep the electricity flowing to our customers.
What you can do: Be prepared and stay safe. Create an emergency plan and kit to ensure you can manage an extended outage, ideally for up to 72 hours. After adverse weather, be particularly cautious of downed power lines, as they pose significant safety risks. If you encounter a downed line, keep a safe distance of at least 10 metres, call 911 immediately and then call Hydro Ottawa at 613 738-6400.
What it is: Those lovely, leafy trees can cause outages when branches get too close to power lines. Tree contact with overhead power lines can lead to fires, equipment damage, or power outages.
What Hydro Ottawa does: Our year-round Tree Trimming program is designed to keep lines clear and safe from overhanging branches. In a typical year, we trim more than 60,000 trees across our service territory. This proactive measure aims to minimize tree-related outages, reinforcing our commitment to a dependable power supply for the community. Our forestry inspectors, trained in proper pruning techniques and equipped with infrared scanning technology, regularly monitor and gather data about trees in proximity to overhead power lines, trimming those directly in contact or within three metres of a power line.
What you can do: Keeping a close eye on tree and vegetation growth is everyone's responsibility. If you notice a tree near an overhead power line or need a temporary outage to trim or remove trees on your property, please report it. Hydro Ottawa can arrange a temporary planned outage on your property to create a safe work environment for you or a licensed contractor. Submit a non-electrical service request online or call us at 613-738-6400.
What it is: External factors can disrupt power delivery. Animals like squirrels and birds are frequent culprits, often causing outages when they come into contact with power lines. Other causes include balloons drifting into power lines, vehicles colliding with poles, unsafe excavations, and even vandalism. Each of these poses risks to equipment and can lead to unexpected power interruptions.
What Hydro Ottawa does: While many instances of foreign interference are beyond our control, our crews are always prepared to respond to unexpected outages. Where possible, we do our best to minimize interference, such as proactively installing animal guards as a means to protect them and our infrastructure from harm.
What you can do: Help reduce foreign interference by taking a few simple precautions. Keep helium balloons secure, call Ontario One Call before digging to avoid accidentally hitting underground cables, and be mindful of overhead power lines when carrying long equipment like ladders. These small actions can make a big difference in keeping the power on for everyone.
What it is: Sometimes things break down. Like any infrastructure, utility equipment has a typical lifespan and undergoes regular maintenance to ensure safe, reliable operation. Over time, exposure to weather, usage, and natural wear can lead to deterioration.
Example: Wooden hydro poles have a lifespan of up to 40 years, but they can be prone to damage from things like lightning strikes, termites, and woodpeckers.
What Hydro Ottawa does: We perform regular inspections and proactive maintenance to catch and replace aging or worn parts before they become a problem. For example, we regularly inspect our poles in 10-year intervals in an attempt to identify damage and make repairs before outages occur. Hydro Ottawa continually invests in large capital projects to replace aging infrastructure to keep the system as reliable as possible.
What you can do: If you notice unusual sounds, like buzzing or crackling, around equipment boxes, or visible signs of damage, such as leaning poles or frayed wires - report them to Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-0188 — they may be signs that maintenance is needed.
What it is: Hydro Ottawa’s grid doesn’t operate in isolation. We rely on Hydro One’s transmission system to deliver a portion of Ottawa’s power from the broader Ontario grid. However, if a problem with their system comes up, our customers can be affected - even though there’s nothing wrong with ours. Hydro One takes it very seriously when this happens, leading to very quick response times and, often, very short outages.
Example: Remember the 2003 blackout? A huge issue across the grid led to outages across North America.
What Hydro Ottawa does: We activate backup systems where possible, coordinate closely with Hydro One for timely updates and resolution, and manage grid demand to prioritize essential services.
What you can do: If your power goes out, you can report an outage online, through the Hydro Ottawa app, or by calling our 24/7 outage line at 613-738-0188.
What it is: Unlike most outage causes, which are typically out of Hydro Ottawa’s control, outages for planned work are scheduled in advance. For crews to carry out critical construction or preventive maintenance work safely, we need to temporarily de-energize the area.
Examples: The most common types of planned work that may require a scheduled outage are: pole replacements, tree trimming and removal, maintenance hole upgrades, cable replacements and electrical equipment maintenance and upgrades.
What Hydro Ottawa does: Scheduled outages are planned, reviewed and scheduled with our customer’s best interests in mind. All impacted customers are contacted by phone, text or email - depending on the communication preferences indicated on their MyAccount. In some cases, customers will receive a written notice delivered to their door. Upcoming planned power interruptions are also posted on our website. Our qualified staff and contractors conduct work safely and efficiently to keep any inconvenience to a minimal. For major capital investment projects, Hydro Ottawa hosts public consultation sessions to foster open dialogue with customers where they can learn about the work being done, ask questions, and provide feedback at various stages of the project.
What you can do: If you’re notified of a planned outage, plan your day accordingly by charging your devices and adjusting your activities for the day. Your understanding helps us complete important work to keep the power grid reliable for everyone. To stay informed about scheduled outages, first, ensure your communication preferences are updated in your MyAccount. Next, sign up for Outage alerts to receive timely notifications.
Is your power out?
- Report it: Help us stay on top of unplanned outages You can report unplanned outages online through your MyAccount, via the Hydro Ottawa app or by calling our 24/7 outage line at 613-738-0188.
- View the Outage Centre Map: Check the online Outage Map on our website to see if there are any known outages in your area.
- Stay informed: Sign up for Outage alerts before an outage occurs, so you’re always prepared with real-time updates. You can also follow us on social media to stay updated during power disruption
- Be prepared: No matter the cause of the outage, when the power goes out, safety should always come first. Consult our Emergency Preparedness webpage to find tips and resources on how to stay safe during outages.