Power Outage Impacting 5,000 Customers Under Investigation as Possible Tampering Incident

Joint Statement from London Hydro, the City of London, London Fire Department, and London Police Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, ON — September 26, 2025 — At approximately 6:30 a.m. on September 26, a significant power outage affected about 5,000 customers in London. Preliminary investigations show a 27,000-volt wire was cut, triggering a fire.
 

Crews from London Hydro responded quickly to isolate the outage to approximately 2000 customers, and had all customers back online within an hour. The London Fire Department attended the scene and contained the fire, while London Police Services immediately launched an investigation into what is being treated as a potential criminal act. Tampering with electrical infrastructure, often tied to copper theft, continues to be a serious issue in London and provincially. London Hydro recently brought this issue forward at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to help advance community safety and protect critical infrastructure.
 

“This morning’s events underscore the seriousness of tampering with electrical equipment,” said Ysni Semsedini, CEO of London Hydro. “Not only does this disrupt critical services, but it also puts lives at risk.” Mayor Josh Morgan emphasized his support for the coordinated response and thanked residents for their patience. “Ensuring the safety of our community is our top priority, and we are grateful for the rapid work of emergency services and London Hydro to restore power and stability,” said Mayor Josh Morgan.
 

The London Fire Department highlighted the risk of interfering with electrical infrastructure. “Tampering with or cutting hydro lines can spark devastating fires and result in serious injury or even death,” said Deputy Fire Chief Gary Bridge, London Fire Department. “Copper wire theft is a serious crime that endangers public safety,” said Detective Inspector Sean Travis, head of the London Police Service Investigative Services Branch. “It creates electrical hazards that can lead to electric shocks, fires, and even fatalities. Furthermore, it poses significant risks to pedestrians and nearby residents.  The LPS takes these incidents with the utmost seriousness and are actively investigating the ongoing incidents of copper theft in our city.  We encourage anyone with knowledge of these incidents, or who may be responsible, to contact us. We continue to work with our community partners.”

Authorities remind residents to treat downed wires or damaged equipment as live and extremely dangerous. The public is asked to report any suspicious activity around electrical infrastructure or evidence of theft to London Police Services by calling the non-emergency number at 519-661-5670 or 9-1-1 in emergencies. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Together, London Hydro, the City of London, the London Fire Department, and London Police Services remain committed to protecting public safety, restoring service, and ensuring anyone tampering with electrical equipment is held accountable.