Hydro One restores over 138,000 customers affected by storm; estimates 40,000 will remain without power overnight

TORONTO, July 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Over 1000 Hydro One employees continue to work across the province to repair damage and restore electricity to 56,800 customers still without power. Hydro One is advising that 40,000 customers in the hardest hit areas will be once again without power overnight.

"Crews are making steady progress restoring power but we know it is difficult for those customers who continue to wait," said Len McMillan, Vice President, Operations and Maintenance, Hydro One Networks. "We would like to thank other utilities across Ontario who are providing assistance so we can safely get our customers back on as quickly as possible."

Damage includes more than 200 broken poles, many damaged transformers, downed lines and extensive tree fall. Hydro One is receiving assistance from the following utilities: London Hydro, Orangeville Hydro, Woodstock Hydro Services, EnWin, Oshawa PUC Networks Inc., Whitby Hydro, Peterborough Utilities Group, Lakefront Utilities Inc., Kingston Hydro, Ottawa River Power Corporation, North Bay Hydro and Greater Sudbury Hydro Plus Inc.

Here are the areas that will have customers out overnight:

Area Impacted	Number of Hydro One Customers Affected	Longest estimated time of restoration
Aylmer	5,000	July 21
Essex	706	July 22
Kent	2,447	July 22
Alliston	6,030	July 21
Dundas	5,000	July 21
Guelph	500	July 21
Simcoe	500	July 21
Bowmanville	3,000	July 21
Fenelon Falls	4,600	July 22
Minden	1,200	July 22
Peterborough	700	July 22
Bancroft	9,300	July 23
Cobden	2,980	July 21
Kingston	2,187	July 22
Picton	1,000	July 21
Trenton	20	July 21
Brockville	300	July 21
Perth	50	July 21
Barrie	2,312	July 21
Bracebridge	3,500	July 22
Huntsville	120	July 21
Orillia	3,500	July 21
Penetang	3,500	July 22
Tweed	2,500	July 21
Arnprior	350	July 21

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.