Hydro-Québec: 80 per cent of those without power should have it back by midnight Friday

Hydro-Québec updated the public on the current power outage situation following Wednesday’s ice storm – as over 1.1 million Quebecers are still without power – half of them in Montreal.

A third of those without electricity are expected to get it back within 24 hours.

Friday will also be another big work day for Hydro-Québec, another 350,000 users are expected to have power restored.

They are aiming to restore 80 per cent of the network before midnight Friday.

For the rest, it will likely be back Saturday.

Hydro-Québec saying they are hearing a lot of people comparing Wednesday’s storm to the major ice storm in 1998 when people were out of power for weeks. But they say this is a very different case. We are talking about different types of power outages which are much easier to restore. This work should take hours and days, not weeks.

Workers are focusing on safety first and foremost, which is what is causing delays, as well as the magnitude of the damage.

They will then target outages that affect the largest amount of people.

“Yesterday during the freezing rain no work would have been possible. Some teams were on the field watching the situation, but most of the work we could only start this morning. Also, a lot of trees on the lines, some poles need to be repaired. The magnitude of the storm, of the damages on our system explain the length,” said Maxime Nadeau, directeur Contrôle du système énergétique, Hydro-Québec. “To assess the areas where the damages are more significant. And these are the areas where it will take more time to restore (power). And we aim at having these specific areas identified by the end of today.”

“Notwithstanding all the maintenance you can invest into a line, if a tree falls on a line, it falls on a line. And it’s ice and it’s the weight and the wind. And that… you can invest all the money in the world, it won’t change,” Sophie Brochu, President and CEO of Hydro-Québec. “It’s only normal for us to gather our team, our contractors, deploy them, and as they are integrated, we can bring more in, if they are needed, and help other people coming in.”

Hydro Quebec offices where officials provided an update on the ice storm power outage on April 6, 2023. Matt Tornabene, CityNews Image

Hydro Quebec offices where officials provided an update on the ice storm power outage on April 6, 2023. Matt Tornabene, CityNews Image

Officials also reminding Quebecers not to approach a tree or branch touching a hydro cable as it is extremely dangerous – urging them to call 911 – and the hydro team will be on site to take care of it.

They say the best way for updates on the situation is social media and calling Info-pannes.

If you have loved ones who live alone – authorities say check on them – and provide shelter if you can.

They thanked the public for their patience as well as the over 1,100 workers who will be working hard to restore the network over the long weekend.