During an outage - Power Outage

To report an outage

Online – Go to https://infopannes.solutions.hydroquebec.com/signaler-panne/avertissement and answer five questions.
By phone – Call 1 800 790‑2424.

Help us determine the scope of the outage. Identify the situation.

Has the outage already been reported? If so, our system will let you know and provide you with any details we have about the situation.

Monitor the service status or outage developments.

At all times, you can monitor the status of service interruptions and outages with Hydro‑Québec’s outage tracker, accessible on this website or on the Hydro‑Québec mobile app.

If it appears to be a major outage, make sure you have an emergency kit nearby. Use a battery-operated radio or your mobile device (if the network is available) to stay informed about the situation.

Be careful when using backup equipment and generators.

Thinking of using generators or portable stoves designed for outdoor use or fuel-burning backup heaters or lights? Be aware that they can cause asphyxiation or poisoning if used inside, because they have no exhaust system to evacuate carbon monoxide. This equipment should only be used outdoors.

According to Chapter V — Electricity of Québec’s Construction Code, generators must be installed by a master electrician (in French only) to avoid electrocution, a short circuit or fire.

Small things you can do to help us with service restoration.

During a power outage—especially during a cold spell—there are small things you can do to help us with service restoration.

Go around your home with a flashlight to see which devices and equipment were operating when the electricity service was interrupted.
Turn off all manually operated electrical devices that were operating when the power went out. This includes washing machines, dryers, stoves, portable heating devices, hairdryers, toasters and kettles.
Set the thermostat at the lowest possible temperature. The display on certain types of electronic thermostats remains on for a few minutes after an outage occurs.
Unplug all electronics, such as computers, TVs and chargers, to prevent any overvoltage-related damage when service is restored.
Avoid opening the fridge or freezer but do not unplug them. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.
Even if the water pressure is unchanged, don’t use the hot water.
If the dishwasher is operating when the outage occurs, open the door to turn it off.

Why do these simple actions help support the power grid?

When it comes to winter outages, one of the major challenges we face involves re-energizing the system. That’s why every little thing you do helps avoid a system overload during the re-energization phase, which ultimately helps with service restoration. Here’s why:

When we finish our work and restore service in cold weather, the electrical load that our system must support quickly reaches a very high level.
This can trip system protection mechanisms, leading to another outage, which prolongs the service interruption.

Take precautions if you have to leave your house.

At all times

Shut off the water at the main valve and empty the water pipes by turning on all hot and cold water faucets, including those for the dishwasher and washing machine, and flushing the toilets.
Ensure that all fires are out in fireplaces and wood-burning stoves and the kitchen range is off.

In winter

If the outage occurs in the winter, certain additional precautions should be taken:

Turn off the circuit breaker for the water heater.
Pour antifreeze into:
- all toilet bowls and tanks;
- the drain lines of the dishwasher and washing machine;
- bath and shower drains; and
- the S‑shaped drain traps of all sinks.
Remove all containers that could burst when frozen.
Heating equipment
- If you heat with oil, make sure fuel isn’t pooling in the furnace.
- If you have a hot water heating system, bleed all the radiators.