More than 50,000 homes and businesses across Ontario are still without power as of Monday, following a powerful ice storm that swept through the region last week. Hydro One, Ontario’s largest electricity provider, has deployed over 4,800 crew members to restore power. The company says it’s making steady progress, with favorable weather now allowing helicopters and drones to assist in surveying damage to the grid.
Power Outages Worsen Before They Improve
On Sunday morning, Hydro One reported that about 69,000 customers were still affected. But by Sunday evening, that number rose again to more than 80,000. As of Monday, the figure dropped to just over 55,000.
Hydro One stated that despite the setbacks, its crews are working non-stop. The utility confirmed that the damage caused by the storm was severe in some areas, requiring not just repairs but full replacements of critical infrastructure.
Severe Damage in Minden and Kawartha Lakes
One of the worst-hit areas is Minden, located about 190 kilometers north of Toronto. There, Hydro One crews had to rebuild a large part of the power system on Saturday. In just one day, workers replaced more than 50 hydro poles—an indication of the storm’s strength.
Meanwhile, in the region of Kawartha Lakes, about 20,000 customers are still without electricity. This area, known for its cottages and rural homes, has one of the highest concentrations of outages in the province.
A Week of Extreme Weather
The current crisis started with a major ice storm last weekend, followed by days of high winds and heavy rainfall. These conditions led to falling trees, broken power lines, and other infrastructure damage. Over one million customers have experienced outages since the storm began.
Hydro One spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa stated, “This has been a challenging week for both our teams and our customers. We understand how difficult it is to be without power, especially for this long, and we’re doing everything we can to restore service safely and quickly.”
Crews Using Advanced Technology to Speed Up Work
With clearer skies and calmer weather, Hydro One has resumed flying drones and helicopters to inspect damage from above. This technology helps identify hazards and locate broken lines much faster than ground crews can.
The utility also says that many rural and remote areas are harder to reach, which makes repairs more time-consuming. Fallen trees and slippery terrain continue to delay progress in some zones.
Warnings for Customers Still Without Power
Officials are reminding residents to stay safe during outages. People using gas-powered generators are advised to keep them outside and away from windows to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Food safety is another concern, with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency advising residents to throw out perishable food if the power has been out for more than four hours.
Hydro One has asked customers to remain patient and assured the public that all available crews are working to restore power as fast as possible.
How to Track Outages
Hydro One provides real-time updates through its outage map, which is available on its website. Residents can also sign up for alerts and updates through text or email.
In addition, the Ontario Ministry of Energy is working with local governments and emergency services to support vulnerable people who may be affected by the outages.
A Look Ahead
The utility says full restoration may still take several days in some areas. Extra crews from less-affected parts of Ontario have been reassigned to help in hard-hit regions like Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario.
As climate events become more severe, infrastructure resilience has become a growing topic. The Ontario government has not yet announced any formal plans for upgrades but says discussions are ongoing.