Alert
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Published Date
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
An evening power outage in south London on October 6 was caused when a chainsaw was used to cut down a hydro pole carrying a three-phase transformer bank.
The pole was cut down near Exeter Road and Wellington Road at approximately 5:45 p.m. When the pole came down, the electrical equipment and energized lines were damaged, causing a fire and an outage in the area.
London Hydro crews responded and worked to safely isolate the damaged equipment and restore power. Power was restored to customers by approximately 7:40 p.m.
A police report has been filed regarding the incident.
A serious safety risk
The consequences of tampering with electrical infrastructure extend far beyond a power outage. This incident serves as a reminder that damage to electrical infrastructure can put an entire community at risk.
“This was an extremely dangerous situation that put the public, our crews and first responders at risk,” said Ysni Semsedini, CEO of London Hydro. “Cutting down a hydro pole carrying energized equipment is incredibly dangerous. When that equipment comes down, there is a serious risk of electrical contact, fire and significant damage. That’s exactly what happened last night.”
The cost of preventable damage
We know affordability is top of mind for our customers. Maintaining a safe and reliable electricity system requires ongoing investment in equipment, infrastructure and the people who maintain it.
When electrical infrastructure is damaged, London Hydro must respond with unplanned work, including replacing what was damaged and bringing in specialized crews and equipment to make repairs. These costs are in addition to the planned work needed to maintain and improve the electricity system.
Every dollar spent responding to preventable damage is a cost that could otherwise be directed toward planned work to maintain and improve the system our community depends on.
Protecting electrical infrastructure matters not just for safety and reliability but also for managing the cost of maintaining the electricity system over the long term.
Stay safe around downed power lines
If you see downed power lines, stay at least 10 metres away and call 911. Always treat downed lines as energized, even if they are not sparking.
Never approach or touch damaged electrical equipment. Stay back and report it to London Hydro.
