Power was restored to more than 95 percent of Hydro Ottawa’s customers after the big storm on May 21 broke out in the Ottawa-Gatineau area.
During a press conference on Monday, Mayor Jim Watson quoted the figure as saying that about 8,000 customers were left without electricity on Monday morning after about 10 days of power outages.
Watson is sympathetic to rural customers and some small pockets around town who are still waiting for electricity.
“I know it’s frustrating, it’s annoying and it’s very uncomfortable. And we’re doing our best,” Watson said. “I want to thank the hydro teams that work literally around the clock.”
Alain Gontier, the city’s general manager for public affairs, said about 20 roads were still closed due to wires and downed trees. Meanwhile, only 20 intersections remain inoperable – up from more than 700 just after the storm more than a week ago.
Gontier said public construction workers will begin this week to reintegrate suspended work such as mowing and small-scale maintenance around residential areas.
Bryce Conrad, CEO of Hydro Ottawa, said crews will now focus on the small pockets of residential areas that are still experiencing interruptions.
At 7 a.m. Monday, Conrad said, Hydro Ottawa has:
- 33 breaks for more than 50 customers.
- 27 breaks of between 10 and 50 clients.
- 273 outages of 10 or fewer customers.
Even when the system is up and running, Conrad said there are currently 150 homes that will need repairs and electrical safety checks.
“That number will increase,” he said, as crews find more damage every day they work.
Changes in emergency maintenance
The number of customers without electricity was initially around 180,000. Hydro Ottawa described the widespread damage from lightning and storm as worse than the ice storm of 1998 and the tornado of 2018.
Some roads in Ottawa remain affected by power outages, debris or both. You are also working well to deal with these debris and other debris after the storm.
The city has changed its approach to emergency care, reducing the number of emergency centers in favor of four “one-stop shops” and invitations to use electricity and toilets in public and entertainment centers.
More than 8,000 customers in the region who are not served by Hydro Ottawa are without electricity, mostly around Bancroft, Ont., And Tweed, Ont.
Add Comment