Hydro One restores 102,000 customers affected by storm; 93,000 remain without power

TORONTO, July 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Close to 900 Hydro One employees are working across the province to repair damage and restore electricity to 93,000 customers still without power. Hydro One will continue to work restoring customers throughout the weekend.

"This violent storm has caused widespread damage in pockets across Ontario," said Len McMillan, Vice President, Operations and Maintenance, Hydro One Networks. "Our crews are out in full force clearing trees and rebuilding the distribution system to get power flowing and we appreciate our customers' patience."

Damage includes broken poles and transformers, downed lines and extensive tree fall. In some parts of the province, travel is hampered as trees need to be cleared off of roads before Hydro One staff can reach damaged equipment. Hydro One has deployed all available staff and has requested help from other local distribution companies. Staff working include line maintainers, foresters, operations managers, damage assessors and support personnel.

Some of the major areas affected are listed below:

Area Impacted	Number of Hydro One Customers Affected	Longest estimated time of restoration
Bancroft	9,500	July 21
Cobden	6,300	July 21
Bracebridge	5,200	July 22
Kingston	8,400	July 21
Fenelon Falls	6,900	July 22
Orillia	7,100	July 20
Dundas	9,100	July 21
Minden	4,100	July 22
Nipissing	4,000	July 21
Penetang	3,400	July 21
Simcoe	1,500	July 21
Clinton	1,400	July 20
Peterborough	2,000	July 22
Arnprior	1,300	July 20

Power will be restored as soon as possible and Hydro One will provide updated estimated times of restoration as they become available. For local updates on estimated restoration times, customers can download the free Hydro One mobile app available on BlackBerry, iPhone and Android or visit HydroOne.com.

Important Safety Information

Hydro One strongly urges people to take extra precaution near fallen power lines. Even if a fallen wire seems dead, it can be dangerous. People are urged to report to Hydro One the location of the fallen wires as soon as possible by calling 1-800-434-1235. Touching a vehicle that is in contact with a power line can be fatal.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.

SOURCE: Hydro One Inc.

contact Hydro One Media Relations 24 hours a day at 1-877-506-7584 (toll-free in Ontario only) or 416-345-6868. Our website is www.HydroOne.com.