Toronto Hydro crews assessing damage and responding to emergency calls, asking customers to 'share the power'

TORONTO, Dec. 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Toronto Hydro-Electric System (Toronto Hydro) is reporting that over 250,000 customers are without power across the city as a result of the ice storm.  Areas with overhead power lines are the hardest hit: Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Toronto Hydro is concerned that wind gusts and further adverse weather will hamper the restoration efforts.

As a result of the volume of calls that continue to come in, and the current weather conditions, Toronto Hydro is asking customers to prepare for the worst-case scenario. While the utility hopes to have everyone restored by Wednesday, it is asking customers to make alternate arrangements, if possible.

There are a number of customers who may have special needs or are elderly; Toronto Hydro asks that residents check on their neighbours.

For customers with electricity service, Toronto Hydro is asking that they "share the power" and consider inviting neighbours inside.

The City of Toronto has also opened a number of warming stations, they can be found at www.toronto.ca

Toronto Hydro crews are working to on public safety calls first, then on to restore priority customers such as hospitals, city services and TTC.  All available resources have been deployed and crews are working as quickly as possible to restore power.

If you spot a downed wire, please stay back (at least 10 feet) and report it to 911 or to Toronto Hydro's operations centre at 416-542-8000.

For more information about household items to have on hand during a lengthy outage, please visit torontohydro.com/poweroutage

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SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro-Electric System Ltd. 
[email protected] 
W: 416-542-2621
C: 416-903-0440