When the power goes out, it’s normal to wonder what happened. It is often due to a power outage or a planned service interruption.
Maintenance work must be performed to keep the power system in good condition and ensure its reliability. To do the work safely, we sometimes have to cut the power supply. This is called a planned service interruption. Rest assured that these interruptions are always included on the map of scheduled interruptions and we inform the affected customers in advance. That’s why it’s important to check that your telephone number and email address in your Customer Space are up to date.
When you lose your power unexpectedly, it’s an outage! Freezing rain, strong winds or even an overly curious animal—these are examples or what can cause branches to break, fall on a power line and cause an outage. Each year, we cut branches that are too close to power lines to protect the power system and limit the number of outages.
With over 100,000 km of overhead power lines, we need your help. When you plant a tree, make sure you choose the right type and plant it in the right spot. Consult our Choose the Right Tree or Shrub tool.
Power failures are never pleasant. Rest assured that when an outage occurs, Hydro-Québec’s crews make every effort to restore service as soon as possible to the greatest number of customers. The service restoration strategy will depend on the type and scope of outage. The order of priority can vary depending on the situation, the specific needs of a municipality or the requirement of public security officials.
Learn about the various steps in restoring service and why the time it takes to restore service once an outage has been detected can differ quite a bit. Whether big or small, each outage has its own unique characteristics.
Use our mobile app to report an outage and stay abreast of the situation. Sign up for alerts to receive a message if the anticipated service restoration time changes and/or once service is restored.