Q&A
- What are London Hydro’s priorities for service restoration?
- Will you know when I've lost electric service after a storm? Should I call to report my outage?
- How can I tell the difference between telephone, television cable and electrical lines? How can I tell if standing water is electrified? How can I tell if a fallen line still has electricity in it?
- Is it safe for me to walk my neighbourhood right after a storm has passed to see the damage?
- How should I hook up my portable electrical generator?
- How many appliances can I connect and run from my portable generator?
- How will fallen trees near power lines be handled?
- What precautions should I take if I'm returning to my home and find it flooded?
What are London Hydro’s priorities for service restoration?
London Hydro will work around the clock until service is restored, though daylight hours are needed for most activities. Safety of personnel and the public will remain our highest priority. The priorities are:
- Assessing the overall system and repairing major lines and substations that carry power.
- Restoring power to key services essential to community safety, health and welfare - such as hospitals, police, fire, communications, water, sanitary and transportation providers.
Will you know when I've lost electric service after a storm? Should I call to report my outage?
If power goes out in a neighbourhood, we'll know if large power lines have been damaged and you're without power. So rather than calling us right away, please help us keep the phone lines open. If you need to report an emergency like a downed power line or electrical equipment that is sparking and dangerous, please call our emergency number immediately. 661-5555
How can I tell the difference between telephone, television cable and electrical lines? How can I tell if standing water is electrified? How can I tell if a fallen line still has electricity in it?
Consider all cables and wires as being energized regardless of whether they are electrical, cable television or telephone. If a line is in the water, be VERY CAUTIOUS and consider it and the water to be energized. Please keep children away from all flooded areas and areas with lots of debris as the water could be hiding an energized line.
Is it safe for me to walk my neighbourhood right after a storm has passed to see the damage?
Stay away from downed lines, flooding and debris. Don't walk in standing water and don't venture out in the dark because you won't be able to see a power line that could still be energized and dangerous.
How should I hook up my portable electrical generator?
Appliances should be plugged directly into a portable generator, using extension cords if necessary. For your safety, run portable generators outside the house so the generator gets proper ventilation. Check the manufacturer's recommendations and follow them for proper use and load. If you have any doubts, consult a licensed electrician. Only a licensed electrician should attempt to hook up a generator to the main electric panel of a home or business.
If you improperly connect to a main panel, power can "back feed" from the generator, including RV generators, into utility lines and injure a neighbour, property or utility crews working to restore service.
How many appliances can I connect and run from my portable generator?
Consult the manufacturer's instructions. Each generator has a rated wattage, which provides a limit for how many appliances it will safely power. Add together the wattage of different appliances and do not exceed the manufacturer's total rated wattage for the generator.
How will fallen trees near power lines be handled?
One of our top priorities will be to remove trees and debris that have damaged electrical equipment and are preventing service restoration. Customers should not attempt to remove or trim foliage within 10 feet of a power line. If a tree or tree limbs have fallen on a power line or pulled it down, do not attempt to get close to the line. If the line is sparking, call us immediately at 661-5555 and report it as an emergency.
Safety should always be your first priority when pruning. Look up. Be especially careful when working with a ladder, scaffold, pole or tree in your yard. Do not do any trimming near a power line.
What precautions should I take if I'm returning to my home and find it flooded?
The first thing you should do is ensure you are not standing in water when operating switches, plugging in or unplugging appliances or resetting breakers or replacing fuses.
- Do not attempt to reset breakers or replace fuses until all water has receded. Use caution. Some circuits above the flood level may still be energized. Disconnect all electrical appliances before attempting to reset breakers or replace fuses. Be sure to wear dry shoes with rubber soles and stand on something dry and non-conductive, such as a dry piece of wood or wooden furniture.
- Use a dry and non-conductive "tool" such as a wooden stick or piece of PVC pipe in 1 hand when resetting breakers. Place the other hand behind your back. Do not make contact with the metal breaker box and other grounded objects in the area.
- Call a licensed electrician if breakers will not reset and continue to trip. This condition might indicate a short circuit in your electrical system.
- Check for water damage in all appliances and make sure cords and other parts are dry before re-plugging them into wall sockets.
- Disconnect an appliance immediately if a breaker trips, a fuse blows, or you see smoke or smell a burning odor. Have it checked by a qualified appliance serviceman.
