Hydro One emergency power outage: Manitoulin Island customers impacted

12,000 Hydro One customers in northern Ontario, including most of Manitoulin Island, are experiencing an emergency power outage for critical repairs.

Nearly 12,000 Hydro One customers on Manitoulin Island and in surrounding areas are being told to prepare for a planned, emergency power outage scheduled for Monday evening.

The outage is required to allow crews to make urgent repairs at the Manitoulin Transmission Station.

“To complete this critical work, an outage is needed as equipment must be de-energized for our crews to work safely,” Tiziana Baccega Rosa, a senior media relations advisor with Hydro One, said in an email to CTV News.

The power will be shut off on March 2 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The utility said the issue was identified as a broken insulator that needs to be repaired immediately to prevent an even longer, unplanned outage in the future. During the scheduled six-hour window, crews will replace a total of six insulators to maximize the efficiency of the repair work.

“We are making every attempt to contact affected Hydro One customers via an automated phone call,” Baccega Rosa said.

“Customers registered for outage alerts will also be notified through their preferred method.”

For more information, customers can visit the Hydro One outage map or call 1-888-664-9376. They can also register for outage alerts through their myAccount portal.

Preparing for a scheduled outage

In preparation for the planned shutdown, the utility is urging residents to take several steps to minimize inconvenience and ensure safety.

Those affected are encouraged to prepare by taking the following actions:

• turn off all major appliances,
• fully charge cellphones and devices,
• use a battery-powered alarm clock or cellphone to avoid missing alarms,
• avoid opening fridge and freezer doors and use a cooler with ice during the planned outage,
• consider filling jugs of water to use for drinking and cooking if water services will be impacted at your home and
• if you have a generator, use it in a dry area outdoors that avoids any open windows, doors and vents.

Visit the Electrical Safety Authority website for more tips.

The outage will impact customers in the following areas: Allan East, Allan West, Assiginack, Barrie Island, Bay of Islands, Bidwell North, Billings, Burpee and Mills, Carnarvon, Central Manitoulin, Cockburn Island, Curtin, Dawson, Gordon, Gore Bay, Howland, Killarney, Little Current, M’Chicheeng First Nation, Mindemoya, Mongowin, Robinson, Sandfield, Sheguiandah North, Sheguiandah South, Sheguiandah 24 First Nation, Sheshegwaning 20 First Nation, South Bidwell, Spring Bay, Sucker Creek 23 First Nation, Tehkummah, Town of Killarney, West Bay 22 First Nation, Whitefish River 4 First Nation, Wikwemikong, Wikwemikong 26 First Nation, Willisville and Zhibaahaasing First Nation.